HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Visitor Reception Building and Westminster Hall

Derek Conway: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will make a statement on progress with planning for the Visitor Reception Building and its likely impact on Westminster Hall.

Nick Harvey: In May last year the House agreed to the proposal made in the joint Report from the Accommodation and Works and Administration Committees for a new Visitor Reception Building to be sited at the north west corner of Westminster Hall. The House of Lords endorsed this proposal in July last year.
	Over the past 12 months work on design has progressed. Tenders will be invited in August 2005. Construction is due to begin on site in December 2005. It is planned to complete the work by the time of return of the House in October 2006.
	A model of the new Visitor Reception Building will be exhibited in the Upper Waiting Hall from 27 June to 1 July, in the atrium of Portcullis House from 4 to 8 July, and in the Royal Gallery in the House of Lords from 11to 15 July.
	The construction of the new facility will in any event involve some disruption to Westminster Hall as well as the facilities on the west side of the Hall. To avoid such disruption being spread over a number of years, the opportunity is being taken to undertake at the same time a number of maintenance and repair projects in Westminster Hall itself, including replacement of the guttering and repairs to the south stairs and floor. As a result, Westminster Hall, the Grand Committee Room, the Jubilee Cafe, the Jubilee Room, the meeting rooms off Westminster Hall, and the IPU and CPA offices and reception rooms will be inaccessible from the end of December 2005 until October 2006.
	Mr. Speaker has decided that sittings of the House in Westminster Hall will be held in Committee Room 10, with effect from January 2006 until the return of the House in October 2006.
	As a temporary measure to replace the W meeting rooms off Westminster Hall, Committee Room 21 on the Upper Committee Corridor will be divided into two separate meeting rooms. The Serjeant at Arms will shortly be circulating further details of arrangements for other meeting rooms.
	As a temporary measure to alleviate the effect of the closure of the Jubilee Room, functions held in the Macmillan Room in Portcullis House will be allowed to use outside caterers, as will meetings in additional spaces to be made available by the House of Lords.
	The offices of the UK branch of the CPA will be moved to temporary offices in 2 The Abbey Garden. The Chess Room will be made available as a reception room.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Fraud

Gregory Barker: To ask the Solicitor-General what criminal investigations the Serious Fraud Office is undertaking into cases of fraud by staff working for HM Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: SFO policy is to neither confirm or deny whether a specific matter has been referred to it, or is under investigation, until such a time as is considered appropriate or necessary.
	On this occasion it is in the public interest to confirm that I am told there are no current SFO investigations into allegations of fraud by officials of HM Customs and Excise (now HM Revenue and Customs).
	Any such allegation referred to the SFO would be accepted for investigation if it met the SFO's acceptance criteria and there was evidence to support the allegations. Otherwise it may be investigated by an alternative investigating authority.

Fraud

Gregory Barker: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the role of the Serious Fraud Office in investigating cases of fraud by staff at HM Customs and Excise.

Mike O'Brien: The Director of the Serious Fraud Office may investigate any suspected offence involving serious or complex fraud.
	The overriding criterion is that the fraud is such that the direction of the investigation should be in the hands of those responsible for any subsequent prosecution.
	If a case involving allegations of fraud by officials of HM Customs and Excise (now HM Revenue and Customs) was referred to the SFO that met this criterion, then it would be accepted for investigation by the SFO.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Solicitor-General how many officials currently in the offices of the Law Officers received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Wednesday 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 805W, on advice to Cabinet, on what basis it was disclosed that the Attorney-General made an oral presentation to the Cabinet of his advice on the legality of the war in Iraq.

Mike O'Brien: The information was disclosed by the Butler Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction in its Report published on 14 July 2004.

Lenient Sentences (Appeals)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Solicitor-General under what circumstances the Crown Prosecution Service has the power to appeal against an unduly lenient sentence; and whether this includes convictions for actual bodily harm.

Mike O'Brien: Part IV of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, as amended, provides that the Attorney-General may apply to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) to refer for review by the court sentences that he regards to be unduly lenient. The Solicitor-General has the same power to refer sentences. The CPS and other prosecuting agencies cannot appeal directly under the power but must refer a sentence to the Law Officers for consideration. It is then for the Law Officer alone to decide whether to refer the sentence.
	These provisions only apply to certain offences where the sentence is passed in the Crown court but does not include assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
	The CPS can refer to the Law Officers any sentence for an offence which is covered by the power where it considers it appropriate to do so. It may also refer cases to the Law Officers where there has been a direct request to do so by a victim, family member or member of the public.
	The Court of Appeal, having considered an application for a review of such a sentence, may quash the sentence passed in the Crown court and impose a different sentence which can be more severe.

Muggers (Prosecutions)

John Hemming: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 456W, on theft, what powers the police have to ensure that a mugger is prosecuted.

Mike O'Brien: The decision whether to initiate a prosecution of a case in the courts may be taken either by the police or by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). How the procedure to initiate proceedings operates depends on the nature of the offence and, currently, where an offence was committed. When the roll-out of statutory charging is completed (planned for April 2006), a standard procedure will apply throughout England and Wales.
	In an area where statutory charging applies, the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) Guidance (under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as amended) allows police officers themselves to charge a range of offences but not robbery.
	The CPS would usually deal with robbery offences. The public interest would almost always demand a prosecution in such cases. In strictly limited circumstances, a case that is cautioned may subsequently be prosecuted, though the parameters have been very tightly defined by the courts.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Acts of Parliament (Internet Access)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to make all Acts of Parliament published before 1988 for which her Department is responsible available on-line.

Jim Knight: The Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) within the Cabinet Office is the Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament, and responsible for the publication of Acts of Parliament. HMSO has considered the publication of Acts prior to 1988, which is the earliest date when these were available electronically, but has decided not to do so as many have been heavily amended and to publish them in their original form would be misleading for many users. The Government is, however, taking forward development of a Statute Law Database which will contain the fully revised and updated text of all legislation from 1275. It is expected that this will be made available to the general public during 2006.

Aircraft (Carbon Dioxide)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures she plans to put in place to reduce carbon dioxide output from aircraft entering or leaving the United Kingdom.

Elliot Morley: This Government are concerned about the contribution that UK aviation makes to global warming, which by 2030 could amount to about a quarter of the UK's total contribution to climate change. We are working hard domestically and in the EU to reduce the impact of aviation on climate change. Defra Ministers and officials worked closely with colleagues at the Department for Transport to ensure that this vital issue was addressed in the Government's Air Transport White Paper which was published in December 2003. As a result, the Government's long term aviation policy has repeated our commitment to taking a lead on climate change and recognises the need for aviation to take its share of responsibility for tackling the impact of air transport on global warming.
	The preferred Government option for tackling the contribution that aviation makes to global warming is through a well designed emissions trading scheme. For an international industry, an international trading regime is the best solution, and we are working with the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) to achieve this. Within the EU we will be pressing for the inclusion of aviation into the EU emissions trading scheme, and have made this a top priority for the UK presidency of the EU, with a view to aviation joining the scheme in 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter. Officials from DfT and Defra have already approached other member states on the matter and are working closely with the European Commission.
	This provides a solid foundation for action in tackling aviation's global impacts. However, we recognise that this may not provide a total solution. In view of this, we will continue to explore and discuss options for the use of other economic instruments for tackling aviation's greenhouse gas emissions, building on the work in the March 2003 report Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments".

Aircraft (Carbon Dioxide)

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon was emitted in (a) 1990 and (b) 2004 from international aviation which (i) landed and (ii) took off from the UK.

Elliot Morley: Emissions from international aviation which took off from the UK in 1990 and 2003 (the most recent year for which the information is available) were 4.3 and 8.1 million tonnes of carbon per year, respectively. These emissions are estimated using the amount of fuel provided to aircraft in the UK. The estimates are consistent with guidelines developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and agreed internationally for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories. Emissions from international aviation that landed at UK airports are not separately estimated.

Aircraft (Carbon Dioxide)

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much carbon was emitted in the UK in (a) 1990 and (b) 2004 (i) excluding and (ii) including international aviation.

Elliot Morley: The following table shows UK carbon dioxide emissions with and without international aviation in 1990 and 2003, which is the most recent year for which full information is available. The data are expressed as million tonnes of carbon per year and were released by the Department in March this year.
	
		Million tonnes carbon per year
		
			  UK emissions excluding international aviation Emissions including international aviation 
		
		
			 1990 165.4 169.7 
			 2003 156.1 164.2 
		
	
	Emissions from international aviation and international shipping are recorded as memorandum items in the UK greenhouse gas inventory but are not included in national totals. This is consistent with guidelines developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and agreed internationally for the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories.

Badgers

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recentassessment she has made of the relationship between badger populations and the incidence of TB in cattle.

Ben Bradshaw: There are no recent data on the relationship between badger population density and the incidence of TB in cattle.
	Investigation of the prevalence of TB in wild badgers is being carried out through the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) and the Road Traffic Accident survey of badgers found dead in seven English counties. The RBCT will provide some information on badger numbers within the trial areas, which could be related to cattle herd breakdown rates. However, badger density estimates may not be very reliable even in trial areas (they would be based on trapping returns and field survey information).

British Waterways Board

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will instruct the British Waterways Board to realise the value of its non-operational land in order to apply it to investment in the operational waterways or to fund other cost-cutting exercises elsewhere in Government.

Jim Knight: No. I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 250W.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what value for money procurement savings were identified and what reduction in civil service posts occurred in her Department in 2004–05.

Jim Knight: This information is as follows:
	(a) Value for Money Savings
	DEFRA's value for money procurement gains for 2004–05 are being calculated and will be published in the 2005 Treasury Autumn Performance report.
	(b) Reductions in Civil Service Posts in 2004–05
	In Budget 2005 the Chancellor announced a headcount reduction of 12,500 posts by the end of 2004–05, towards the Government's target of a gross reduction of 84,000 civil service and administrative posts by 2008.
	DEFRA's target is to reduce its head count by 2,400 (measured as full-time equivalent posts) by the end of 2007–08. The programmes that make up DEFRA's efficiency portfolio contributed 340 posts to this target in financial year 2004–05. The majority of these post reductions were delivered through restructuring and the introduction of new working practices in the Rural Payments Agency (235 posts) and the human resources function (91 posts).
	DEFRA's staff in post figures show a reduction of 445 posts between 1 April 2004 and 1 April 2005. This includes the transfer of 320 members of staff to IBM as part of the outsourcing of IT services in October 2004. However, these transfers cannot be counted as efficiencies, as the individuals continue to work on DEFRA's account. The reason that the balance does not match the reductions delivered through the efficiency programme is that DEFRA has taken on staff to meet new work areas arising from the Spending Review 2004 settlement, such as the world summit on climate change and the EU presidency.

Common Agricultural Policy

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral statement on 20 June 2005, Official Report, columns 523–40, on the European Council, what estimate she has made of the likely increase in the UK net contribution to the EU budget if the Government's proposals for reform of the Common Agricultural Project are accepted.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The impact of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform on the UK net contribution to the EU budget will very much depend on the outcome of the overall negotiations currently being held on the next Financial Perspective—not just that element which relates to the CAP.

Common Agricultural Policy

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a concise guide, in every recognised language of the EU, to British proposals for the reform of the CAP, indicating the benefits in each EU member state to (a) consumers, (b) taxpayers, (c) small farms, (d) the environment (e) animal welfare and (f) the benefits of reform to developing countries.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to publish a guide of this kind. However, the Government will continue to argue the case for further reform of the CAP, and will use every available opportunity for promote the benefits of reform.

Departmental Staff

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many registered (a) nutritionists and (b) dieticians she employs within her Department.

Jim Knight: There are no registered nutritionists or dieticians employed within DEFRA or its executive agencies.

Endangered Species Regulations

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what responses she received on the draft statutory instrument on Control in Trade of Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 2005; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether she intends to increase the maximum sentence for all offences under the Control in Trade of Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 2005 to five years as provided for in section 307 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  when she intends to introduce secondary legislation under section 307 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 increasing the maximum sentence for the illegal trade in endangered species.

Jim Knight: We have received 53 responses to the consultation on the draft Statutory Instrument. We are considering these responses and plan to publish an amended Statutory Instrument later in the year.
	I have today laid before Parliament the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 2005 which increase the maximum penalty for certain offences to five years imprisonment. The regulations will come into force on 21 July.

Equine Passports

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all equines are required to have a passport.

Jim Knight: The Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004 require owners in England of horses, ponies and other equines to obtain a passport for each such animal they own within specified time limits. Similar requirements apply in the rest of the UK.
	There are limited exceptions for ponies on Dartmoor and in the New Forest which will only need a passport when they move from these areas. The New Forest Verderers and the Dartmoor Commoners Council are each obliged to maintain a list, which individually identifies all such horses and ponies.
	Owners of horses brought into England do not need to apply for a passport if the horse or other equine remains in England for less than 30 days. Again, similar provision applies in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland regards horses and other equines brought into those territories.
	These measures apply to animals of equine or asinine species, or crossbreeds of those species, but do not apply to zebras.

Flood Defences

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what technologies were used in drawing up the Environment Agency flood maps; and what steps her Department is taking to improve the accuracy of the maps.

Elliot Morley: Flood risk mapping is an important part of our and the Environment Agency's public awareness strategy, to ensure that flood risk is better understood by all concerned including people living and working in the floodplains and those responsible for development control and emergency planning.
	The Environment Agency's Flood Map is the result of years of investment in river and coastal floodplain surveys, hydrological and hydraulic modelling and mapping of land at risk from flooding. The best available technologies, science and leading engineering consultancies have been used for each element of the mapping that was appropriate to the geographical scale under consideration. By combining the mapping into one product the Environment Agency has produced the most comprehensive and accurate publicly available Flood Map for England and Wales.
	The Environment Agency, through their flood mapping strategy, is continuing to invest in extending and improving their understanding of flood risk with a planned expenditure on flood mapping of £8.5 million in 2005–06. Three-monthly updates are produced, which incorporate the latest data into the Flood Map. The Flood Map is available on the internet and it is also provided directly to planning authorities and the emergency services to help with planning and preparing for future flooding.

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department has only been in existence since June 2001. Information covering earlier periods is therefore not available.
	The number of laptop computers available for use is:
	
		
			  Financial year 
			  2001–02 2004–05 
		
		
			 Ministers 6 16 
			 Special advisers n/a 2 
			 Officials 1,835 2,127 
		
	
	n/a = Not available
	It should be noted that the laptops shown as available for use by Ministers are held by their private offices and are available for use by Ministers, special advisers and staff.
	Data for the intervening years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	The number of laptops (i) lost and (ii) stolen is:
	
		
			 Financial year Lost Stolen 
		
		
			 2000–01 0 7 
			 2001–02 5 6 
			 2002–03 0 2 
			 2003–04 0 0 
			 2004–05 0 3 
		
	
	To calculate the cost of using laptops there are many elements to consider, such as, purchase cost, peripheral devices, maintenance, depreciation, service provision and electricity used. Each of these costs would be different for each different model of laptop used in the Department. The time required collating this information and to calculate this figure, even if it were available, would result in a disproportionate cost.

Luxembourg Plan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects on rural development of the implementation of the Luxembourg Plan.

Jim Knight: There have been two initiatives on rural development under the Luxembourg Presidency.
	The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the European Council's discussions on 16–17 June did not reach agreement on the future financing of the EU. The financial amounts available for rural development will depend on the outcome of the negotiations on future financing of the EU, and on factors such as the ability of member states to transfer resources from traditional direct subsidies to farmers (so-called Pillar 1") to rural development measures. This is a practice which the UK has followed since 2001; and the UK is pressing to ensure that domestic agri-environment programmes can continue to be funded in this way.
	The Luxembourg Presidency did, however, secure political agreement to the draft Rural Development Regulation at Agricultural Council on 20 June (subject to any necessary amendment in the light of future financing decisions). The regulation sets out the framework for EU co-financed rural development expenditure from 2007 to 2013. My Department's assessment was set out in Explanatory Memorandum 11495/04.

Mole-catchers

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department made of the working practices of mole-catchers before she agreed to the banning of strychnine hydrochloride as a biocidal agent.

Elliot Morley: Defra recognised the problems that the withdrawal of strychnine could cause for the control of moles. The Central Science Laboratory was commissioned to undertake a review of the range of mole control methods which exist across the EU. The aim of this review was to produce guidance on the most humane and effective methods of mole control which are currently available.
	The report A review of methods used within the European Union to control the European Mole, Talpa Europaea" was published by Defra in February 2004. It concluded that the unavailability of strychnine in the future suggests that landowners and occupiers will have to assess more carefully whether moles should be controlled or left alone in order to avoid initiating measures that are unnecessary or unlikely to reduce damage levels in the long term. If control is necessary, alternative methods are available such as trapping and fumigation.

Mole-catchers

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what alternative methods for the destruction of moles her Department advises mole-catchers to use once strychnine hydrochloride is withdrawn.

Elliot Morley: Once strychnine hydrochloride is withdrawn, if control of moles is considered necessary alternatives are available such as trapping or fumigation.

National Bee Unit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding was allocated to the National Bee Unit health programme in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: DEFRA supports the beekeeping sector in England by funding a range of measures to protect bee health. These measures are implemented by the National Bee Unit. The Department's expenditure with the Unit in each of the last five years is sent out in the following table.
	
		DEFRA expenditure with the National Bee Unit
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,300,000 
			 2002–03 1,300,000 
			 2003–04 1,235,000 
			 2004–05 1,235,000 
			 2005–06 1,235,000

Rights of Way (Designations)

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications have been received for areas to be designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; how many have been approved; and how many footpaths have been (a) closed and (b) diverted on grounds of crime prevention as a result.

Jim Knight: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 introduced provisions to enable alleyways to be gated to prevent crime, in areas designated for this purpose by the Secretary of State.
	We have received 28 applications for designation since the legislation came into force in February 2002. 25 have subsequently been approved. These cover 84 areas in England. Of the remaining three applications, two were withdrawn and one is still pending.
	Since the 84 areas were designated, 53 orders have been made under new section 118b of the Highways Act 1980 to close rights of way to prevent crime. 35 of these have resulted in highways being successfully closed. The remaining orders are awaiting confirmation by the local highway authority or Secretary of State. We are not aware of any diversion orders.

Sewage

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to reduce the amount of sewage being deposited in the Thames.

Elliot Morley: The Final Determination of Thames Water's price limits in 2005–10, published by the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) on 2 December 2004, include provision for significant treatment capacity increases at Mogden, Beckton and Crossness sewage works, and to improve the treated discharge at Riverside sewage works. The capacity increases are expected to reduce the frequency and impact of storm water discharges from these works.
	Since 2001 officials from the Department have been involved in a strategic study of the environmental impact of intermittent storm sewage discharges to the Thames Tideway. The Steering Group includes members from Thames Water, the Environment Agency, the Greater London Authority, and, with observer status, Ofwat.
	My officials and the Study Group are currently carrying out further consideration of issues concerning the proposed long-term interceptor tunnel, and possible appropriate smaller-scale measures which could provide earlier improvements to the overflow discharges during wet weather. A further report is expected soon, and it will be carefully considered by Ministers and Ofwat, and a decision made on an appropriate course of action to meet our obligations to protect the environment in a cost-effective way.

Silage

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) economic and (b) animal health impacts of the pollution of silage by earth.

Elliot Morley: No assessments of the economic or animal health impacts of the pollution of silage by earth have been made by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Single Farm Payment

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the representations she has received on the effects of single farm payments on motor sports events being held on agricultural land; what response she has made; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 21 June 2005
	Land used in support of claims for payment under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) must be at the claimants' disposal for the 10-month period nominated on their claim forms. Under recently updated guidance issued by the Department, motor sports may take place on up to 28 days during the nominated 10-month period, in addition to all of the remaining two months of the year. The updated guidance takes on board representations made by motor sports interests and, overall, we would expect the impact of the SPS on the availability of farmland used for such sports to be limited.
	Since the updated guidance was issued, the Department has received additional representations from the All Party Parliamentary Group for Motorcycles, the Motorsport Industry Association and a number of individuals, which are currently being considered.

Waste Management

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many kilogrammes per capita of (a) municipal, (b) commercial and industrial and (c) waste electrical and electronic equipment were (i) recycled, (ii) sent to incineration and (iii) landfilled in each member state of the European Union in (A) 2000, (B) 2001, (C) 2002, (D) 2003 and (E)2004.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) The following tables show the amount of municipal waste recycled, incinerated and landfilled per capita, in each EU country, for each year from 2000 to 2003 based on data supplied to and published by Eurostat.
	
		(i) Municipal waste recycled and composted/kgper capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 320 321 357 362 
			 Belgium 230 239 246 231 
			 Bulgaria 117 102 96 92 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 67 69 71 71 
			 Czech Republic 21 24 35 40 
			 Denmark 246 257 254 278 
			 Estonia 2 76 98 144 
			 Finland 145 141 127 124 
			 France 131 142 151 158 
			 Germany 312 305 360 365 
			 Greece 36 37 37 35 
			 Hungary 35 36 40 49 
			 Iceland 93 106 132 135 
			 Ireland 49 166 194 227 
			 Italy 82 123 153 151 
			 Latvia 18 5 66 104 
			 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 
			 Luxembourg 235 244 223 235 
			 Malta 146 78 n/a n/a 
			 Netherlands 369 363 371 386 
			 Norway 189 431 461 474 
			 Poland 6 12 8 8 
			 Portugal 38 13 28 16 
			 Romania 61 70 76 76 
			 Slovakia 120 181 32 68 
			 Slovenia 111 121 126 104 
			 Spain 219 193 190 208 
			 Sweden 166 174 187 195 
			 Turkey 140 117 126 125 
			 United Kingdom 65 74 90 105 
		
	
	
		(ii) Municipal waste incinerated/kg per capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 65 65 66 65 
			 Belgium 157 161 158 159 
			 Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 0 0 0 0 
			 Czech Republic 31 35 39 39 
			 Denmark 352 374 374 363 
			 Estonia 0 1 0 0 
			 Finland 52 41 39 41 
			 France 174 181 187 189 
			 Germany 133 135 143 146 
			 Greece 0 0 0 0 
			 Hungary 34 35 28 24 
			 Iceland 61 39 35 38 
			 Ireland 0 0 0 0 
			 Italy 40 44 47 49 
			 Latvia 0 12 23 10 
			 Lithuania 0 0 0 0 
			 Luxembourg 284 275 284 274 
			 Malta 0 0 0 0 
			 Netherlands 190 199 194 197 
			 Norway 90 99 109 120 
			 Poland 0 0 1 1 
			 Portugal 96 104 91 98 
			 Romania 0 0 0 0 
			 Slovakia 0 0 29 29 
			 Slovenia 0 0 2 3 
			 Spain 37 37 38 40 
			 Sweden 164 169 188 212 
			 Turkey 0 0 0 0 
			 United Kingdom 41 43 46 45 
		
	
	
		(iii) Municipal waste landfilled/kg per capita per year
		
			  2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Austria 196 192 188 183 
			 Belgium 81 62 58 56 
			 Bulgaria 399 403 404 407 
			 Croatia n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Cyprus 613 634 638 653 
			 Czech Republic 282 214 205 201 
			 Denmark 67 46 40 34 
			 Estonia 438 295 308 274 
			 Finland 306 284 291 285 
			 France 227 222 219 214 
			 Germany 165 160 137 127 
			 Greece 372 380 385 393 
			 Hungary 376 380 389 390 
			 Iceland 842 861 855 867 
			 Ireland 554 541 504 505 
			 Italy 380 341 325 323 
			 Latvia 252 285 280 248 
			 Lithuania 309 300 288 263 
			 Luxembourg 138 131 146 149 
			 Malta 337 472 474 549 
			 Netherlands 57 50 50 16 
			 Norway 336 105 107 102 
			 Poland 310 275 263 251 
			 Portugal 338 355 328 338 
			 Romania 294 266 307 288 
			 Slovakia 196 209 222 222 
			 Slovenia 402 358 351 344 
			 Spain 339 365 360 361 
			 Sweden 98 99 93 64 
			 Turkey 360 357 353 349 
			 United Kingdom 463 465 464 460 
		
	
	n/a = Data are not available, or have been omitted due to significant quality issues.
	Notes:
	Data for incineration and landfill are collected and published by Eurostat for the EU structural indicators. The recycling figures are an estimate produced by subtracting the amount landfilled and incinerated from the total amount of municipal waste generated.
	(b) The following table shows information made available by Eurostat on non-hazardous industrial waste data only. International data on commercial and industrial waste are limited and definitions may not be consistent between countries. Figures are provided intermittently by member states, the following table therefore gives the most recent data produced.
	
		Non-hazardous industrial waste arisings/kg per capita per year
		
			  Recycled and composted Incinerated Landfilled Year on which data are based 
		
		
			 Bulgaria n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Croatia 144 87 n/a 2000 
			 Czech Republic 30 26 92 2001 
			 Denmark 351 72 114 2000 
			 Finland 1,001 1,156 561 2000 
			 France 211 60 66 1999 
			 Germany 308 58 193 2000 
			 Hungary 182 15 34 2000 
			 Iceland n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Ireland n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Italy n/a n/a n/a — 
			 Latvia 25 12 84 2001 
			 Lithuania 79 33 413 2001 
			 Malta n/a n/a 62 2001 
			 Netherlands 986 67 79 2001 
			 Norway 236 120 293 1999 
			 Poland 1 5 266 2001 
			 Portugal 311 73 148 2000 
			 Romania 104 11 410 2000 
			 Sweden 892 720 290 1998 
			 Turkey n/a 0 31 1997 
			 United Kingdom 303 12 264 1998 
		
	
	n/a = Data are not available, or have been omitted due to significant quality issues.
	(c) Figures for waste electronic and electrical equipment are not available at European Union level.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Chile (Earthquake Assistance)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions have taken place with the government of Chile about redevelopment assistance following the earthquake in the northern Andean region.

Gareth Thomas: Based on reports of the Chilean Disaster Management Office to the United Nations, the earthquake that affected Chile on 13 June caused nine deaths and 100 injured. The Government of Chile has not requested international assistance. DFID has not had discussions with the Government of Chile following the earthquake.

Civil Society Challenge Fund

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Civil Society Challenge Fund.

Gareth Thomas: All Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF) project partners must submit an annual narrative and financial report detailing progress against agreed outcomes. Every year 30 per cent. of these are selected for comprehensive appraisal by external consultants, the rest are assessed internally.
	Every CSCF partner must produce a Project Completion Report detailing successes, failures and lessons learned. All of these are fully appraised by external consultants. In addition, DFID encourages all CSCF project partners to carry out a full evaluation towards the end of project. These evaluations are also fully appraised by our external consultants.
	DFID also undertakes a number of field visits each year to a cross section of CSCF projects to verify the progress being made.

Colombia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions his Department has had with the US administration regarding political instability in Colombia.

Gareth Thomas: DFID has not had direct discussions with the US Administration on political instability in Colombia.
	The British and US Governments have regular discussions on issues of shared interest. The discussions include Colombia where we have a common interest in helping Colombia tackle the inter-connected problems of illegal drugs, armed conflict and human rights abuses. Britain and Colombia are also part of the G24, the group drawn from participants at the London Meeting of International Support to Colombia in July 2003 that meets regularly in Bogota to carry forward the relationship with and support to the Government of Colombia.

Female Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of progress towards access to reproductive education for women in third world countries.

Hilary Benn: The most recent assessment of progress is that contained in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Report: State of the World Population 2004: The Cairo Consensus at Ten: Population Reproductive Health and the Global Effort to End Poverty". The report shows areas of progress in meeting the 1994 Cairo goal of ensuring universal voluntary access to a full range of reproductive health, education, information, care and services by 2015.
	Many countries have established or are developing reproductive health programmes and are recognising also the links between female education and reproductive health. But millions of people—particularly poor women—still lack access to quality services, including accurate information, education and modern family planning methods. This is why DFID continues to give priority to supporting reproductive health and rights for women.

Global Environment Facility

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the UK is due to pay into the Global Environment Facility in 2005; how much has been contributed to date; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Global Environment Facility (GEF) provides grants and concessional funds to help developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, the GEF is the designated financial mechanism for the international conventions on biodiversity, climate change, persistent organic pollutants and desertification. The GEF also supports projects that protect international waters and the ozone layer. Since 1991, the GEF has provided $4.5 billion in grants and generated $14.5 billion in co-financing from other partners for projects in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
	Donor nations commit funds to replenish the facility every four years. To date, DFID has contributed £89.5 million under the GEF 1 (1994–98) and £85.25 million under GEF 2 (1998–2002). Under GEF 3 (2002–06), DFID has committed to a core contribution of £103 million and provided an additional £15 million as a signal of our commitment to addressing global environmental problems, making the UK the fourth largest donor to the facility. Therefore, in 2005–06, the UK will contribute £29.5million.
	Negotiations for the fourth replenishment of the GEF (2006–10) began in June and will conclude in December 2005.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Gareth Thomas: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Mozambique

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance he plans to give to Mozambique to establish (a) river and (b) coastal transport to improve its transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The majority of DFID's financial assistance in Mozambique is provided directly to the Government of Mozambique to meet agreed poverty reduction priorities, of which infrastructure is one. DFID has no plans to provide specific support to improve either river or coastal transport in Mozambique.

Sri Lanka

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in the provision of relief aid in Sri Lanka.

Gareth Thomas: The Government have donated over £7 million directly to aid relief and recovery in Sri Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami. DFID funded seven flights for the Disasters Emergency Committee, seconded four staff to help with relief work and made direct grants to United Nations Agencies and international non-governmental organisations to provide shelter, water sanitation equipment, food and other essential help to Tsunami victims. The secondments involved providing an air operations co-ordinator, two shelter advisers and an adviser to the United Nations Humanitarian Information Centre. DFID also provided a member of staff as part of the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Co-ordination team. Sri Lanka has also benefited from some of the £26.5 million disbursed as regional support to the UN, and the £50 million that the Treasury estimates will be given in tax relief on public contributions to the Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal.
	During the relief and recovery phase, DFID has supported the humanitarian work of Help Age, World Vision, Save the Children Fund, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Sri Lankan Red Cross, the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Food Programme and the United Nations Security Co-ordinator in the areas under LTTE control in the North and East of the island. The United Nations has commented that the relief effort in Tamil areas has been impressive. Our humanitarian advisers in-country are monitoring the international response and are confident that aid is getting to those in need.
	In addition to providing relief assistance, DFID has agreed to meet the cost of 10 per cent. of the interest on Sri Lanka's debt repayments to the International Financial Institutions over the next 10 years. This support is expected to be worth some £41 million and will be used for post-tsunami and poverty-reduction work. Further financial support for longer-term reconstruction is under consideration. DFID stands ready to assist in the establishment of a Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure and a Post Tsunami Recovery and Reconstruction Plan.
	The initial relief operation did go well, largely in all areas. However more needs to be done to allow the numerous donors to start reconstruction and to more actively involve affected communities in the planning of that process. The sheer amount of work required to obtain land has delayed the implementation of reconstruction. On my recent visit to the east and south of Sri Lanka I met with many families affected by the tsunami disaster and numerous national and international non-governmental organisations, United Nations and government officials working to support them.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the number of people returning to the South of Sudan; and what assistance is being provided for resettlement.

Hilary Benn: According to the United Nations (UN), 360,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) returned to Southern Sudan during 2004. This year the UN estimates that between 500,000 and 1.2 million people will return during 2005, including both IDPs and refugees from neighbouring countries. The UN is currently drawing up a returns plan that will detail the support returnees receive both during their journey and when then arrive home. We expect this will be released within the next few weeks. DFID has provided £45 million to the UN 2005 Workplan for Sudan, over half of which has been allocated by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to support humanitarian operations and returns in the South.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian conditions of Ethiopian refugees who have settled in Pibor in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the humanitarian conditions of the Ethiopian refugees in Pibor are very poor, but are no worse than the many other residents living in the area. The refugees originate from Gambella in Ethiopia and have settled with the agreement of UNHCR and the State of Jonglei Government. There are approximately 500 refugees temporarily accommodated in an old school.
	The UNHCR and the non-governmental organisation, the Swedish Free Mission (SFM) are assisting the refugees. SFM is providing shelter, water and sanitation. Food is mostly delivered via air drops by the World Food Programme. The Jonglei State Government have also provided the refugees with land to cultivate; the SFM will provide them with tools and seeds. The Department for International Development is providing £1.7 million to the NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres in the region for health assistance to the general population, including the refugees.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the UN High Commission on Refugees on children born and abandoned after rape in the Habila area of Sudan.

Hilary Benn: While I have not discussed this particular issue with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), I know that their staff in West Darfur are monitoring the situation closely and supporting victims of rape and their children. I have made clear to the authorities in Sudan that I deplore the occurrence of rape throughout the crisis in Darfur. It is clear that rape is under-reported due to fear of retribution and social stigma. During my recent visit to Sudan, I raised this in my meetings with UN representatives, and with the Sudanese Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and other Sudanese officials.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the level of repatriation of people from Chad to Sudan.

Hilary Benn: According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), most Sudanese refugees in Chad (numbered at an estimated 200,000) do not intend to return home this year, largely due to their lack of confidence in security in Darfur. However, according to UNHCR, over the last three months, around 20,000 people have spontaneously returned from Chad to Sudan. These people are returning from border areas rather than refugee camps; most of them appear to be returning to Darfur for the planting season rather than to settle permanently at this stage. It is essential that repatriation only occurs on a voluntary basis.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on conflict between internally displaced persons and the police in Soba Aradi, Khartoum.

Hilary Benn: On 18 May around 15 people died when violence erupted in the Soba Aradi camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) south of Khartoum, when attempts were made to move the IDPs to a new camp. On 19 May, I issued a statement expressing the UK's grave concern and called on all sides to prevent any further loss of life. I urged the Government to respect the human rights of the IDPs, protect its citizens and bring those responsible to justice. I followed this up during my visit to Sudan between 12–14 June, and pressed the First Vice-President on the importance of improving relations between IDPs and local police.
	The British ambassador in Khartoum also raised the incident with the Government, and pressed them to investigate the incident in consultation with the Joint National Transition Team under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to take the necessary steps to prevent it happening in the future.
	We have repeatedly made clear to the Government that all returns and relocations must be entirely voluntary and take place in line with the established international monitoring mechanisms that are in place.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: Figures for travel costs within administration costs budgets for years which information is readily available are shown as follows:
	2004–05—£248,300
	The figure provided includes costs for contracted taxi and privately arranged hire. It is not possible to disaggregate separate costs for taxis for earlier years without incurring a disproportionate cost. The information for earlier years is not readily available and in some cases will no longer be held.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's staff handbook, which reflects the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan (Deployment)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the projected levels of deployment to Afghanistan for his Department's personnel is by the (a) end of 2005, (b) middle of 2006 and (c) end of 2006.

Adam Ingram: At the end of 2005 projected levels of deployment to Afghanistan will be very similar to current levels at around 1,000 personnel.
	By the middle of 2006 the HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) Group will have deployed to lead the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for nine months from May 2006. We are also developing plans for the potential deployment offerees to the south of Afghanistan to enable the UK to play a key role in Stage 3 of ISAF expansion.
	An announcement will be made to Parliament once decisions have been made.

Air Tanker Fleet

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the delivery dates are for the new air tanker fleet; from which air centre it will fly; and at which centre it will be serviced and repaired.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 17W, to the hon. Member for Cotswold (Mr. Clifton-Brown).

Armoured Vehicle Training

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total public expenditure to date is on the private finance initiative with the Landmark Training Consortium to provide armoured vehicle training; whether this includes cancellation costs; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Procurement Agency PFI assessment costs for the Armoured Vehicle Training Service (AVTS) was £5 million. This includes costs such as legal, technical and financial advice but not the Ministry of Defence internal costs. This is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. No cancellation costs have been incurred. I announced to the House by means of a written ministerial statement the way forward for AVTS on 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 13WS.

Armoured Vehicle Training

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the implications of the decision not to proceed with the Armoured Vehicle Training Services project under the private finance initiative for the eventual solutions for other training contracts.

Adam Ingram: Since each PFI case is considered on its merits, no formal assessment has been made and in my written Statement to the House on 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 13WS, I confirmed that although not continuing with the Armoured Vehicle Training Services PFI, the Ministry of Defence, supported by the Private Finance Unit, will continue to use PFI where it can be shown to deliver better value for money.

Armoured Vehicle Training

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role a public-private partnership will play in the delivery of the Armoured Vehicle Training Services requirement.

Adam Ingram: A revised procurement strategy is being worked up by the Defence Procurement Agency to deliver the requirement. No decisions have yet been made on public-private partnership forming part of the overall future solution.

Armoured Vehicle Training

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs were of the assessment of the suitability of a private finance initiative solution for the Armoured Vehicle Training Services requirement.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Procurement Agency PFI assessment cost of the Armoured Vehicle Training Service was £5 million. This includes costs such as legal, technical and financial advice but not the Ministry of Defence internal costs. This is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armoured Vehicles

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether (a) BAE Systems Land Systems and (b) its contractors will be purchasing any of the (i)body (excluding armour) and (ii) drive components for the manufacture of the Panther Command and Liaison vehicle from (A) Iveco and (B) other non-UK contractors;
	(2)  what difference there is between the (a) body (excluding armour), (b) engine, (c) gearboxes, (d) drive mechanism and (e) wheels of the (i) Panther Command and Liaison vehicle and (ii) Italian Light Multirole Tactical vehicle.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's Panther Command and Liaison Vehicle when compared to an Italian Light Multirole Tactical Vehicle in the same role would have no significant difference in the body, engine, gearbox, drive mechanism or wheels. BAE Systems Land Systems will purchase a complete base vehicle from Iveco. This will include the drive components and the vehicle body but will exclude the roof. The contractor for the supply of the vehicle roof will be determined by BAE Systems Land Systems before Panther enters full manufacture.

DEFCON 534

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what arrangements are in place to monitor his Department's contractors payments performance against their contractual requirements under DEFCON 534;
	(2)  whether DEFCON 534 is included in all of his Department's contracts.

Adam Ingram: Unless it is known for certain from the outset that there will be no sub-contractor involvement it is policy to include this DEFCON in all contracts.
	The Ministry of Defence has no centrally co-ordinated arrangement in place to monitor defence contractors' payments performance to their sub-contractors under the terms of DEFCON 534 as, due to the high number of contracts let by the Department, it would not be cost effective to do so. That said, where it is specifically relevant to the performance of an MOD contract, Integrated Project Teams can include a performance indicator to measure payment of sub-contractors in the Supplier and Customer Performance Measurement tool, a non-contractual tool implemented to measure performance on contracts with a value of £5 million or over.
	In addition, in the autumn of 2001, MOD agreed with industry a set of Codes of Best Practice (MOD/Industry Commercial Policy Group Guideline no. 5) which include principles requiring Prime Contractors
	to pay promptly for work done in accordance with contracts made".

Departmental Research

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of opportunities for research and consulting disseminated by his Department resulted in (a) research reports and (b) deliverable projects in (i) 2001–02, (ii) 2002–03 and (iii) 2003–04.

Adam Ingram: Details of the Department's spend on External Assistance of which consultancy is a part have been reported to Ministers since 1995–96 and summaries, broken down by MOD Top Level Budget and category, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Research opportunities disseminated out of the MOD's own capabilities are an increasing feature of our programme. Historically, the majority of research was undertaken in-house. However, the substantial changes of structure from creating QinetiQ, as a private public partnership, and Dstl, as a Trading Fund, have allowed us to offer an increasing amount of opportunities to industry and academia.
	The Department does not hold centrally information requested on how many and what percentage of such research and consulting resulted in (a) research reports and (b) deliverable projects. However, the Department's business processes ordinarily require reports to be generated from extramural consultancy and research. MOD's research generally provides knowledge for broad capability requirements rather than being focused on specific projects.

Food Procurement

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent by his Department on public procurement of food in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of that expenditure was covered under Crown immunity on food safety matters.

Adam Ingram: The amount spent on the procurement of food for the armed forces during financial year 2004–05 was approximately £134 million, excluding the cost of Operational Ration Packs.
	The Food Safety Act (1990) applies in England, Scotland and Wales, and to a limited extent in Northern Ireland and has applied to MOD premises since the removal of Crown immunity on 1 April 1992. Therefore, none of the food supplied to the armed forces, in terms of cost or volume, is covered under Crown Immunity.

FRES

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce confirmed contracts for the Future Rapid Effects System.

Adam Ingram: To date, two Technology Demonstrator Programmes (TOP) have been awarded—for Capacity and Stowage (with Dstl) and Hard Kill Defensive Aid Suite (with Akers Kutbruk). Contracts are currently being negotiated in respect of Chassis Concepts, Electronic Architecture and Electric Armour. In addition, tender assessment of Integrated Survivability is under way; an Invitation to Tender has been issued for a Gap Crossing TDP; and a TDP to assess Regenerative Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) is likely to proceed shortly.
	Contracts will be awarded when mutually acceptable terms and conditions have been agreed, and formal announcements will be made in due course.

FRES

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the total cost of the Future Rapid Effects System; when he expects it to be in-service; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) is in its initial Assessment Phase. Studies being carried out during this phase will enable us to define programme costs and an appropriate in-service date (ISD) for endorsement at the main investment decision.
	The ISD will not be formally endorsed until then, but our current planning assumption is that the early variants of FRES will be introduced to service early in the next decade, with a phased approach to achieving full operational capability thereafter.
	Exact costs have yet to be established, however the expected procurement cost of FRES is potentially in the order of £14 billion, subject to the confirmation of current planning assumptions.

Future Aircraft Carrier Project

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to make public the findings of the 100-day review into the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project.

Adam Ingram: The 100 day plan is the most recent programme review undertaken as part of Assessment Phase activities on the Future Aircraft Carrier project. The Alliance Participants—MOD, BAE Systems, Thales UK and Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd. UK—have worked together to complete the review on time and Ministers are currently considering the report's findings. Given the commercial sensitivity of much of the information, it was never our intention to publish the report in its entirety. Its outcome will, however, feature prominently in future decision making and the arrangements for the Demonstration and Manufacture Phase.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships the Royal Navy can dock at Gibraltar at any one time.

Adam Ingram: British Forces Gibraltar has seven operational berths, two of which are classified as Zberths capable of supporting nuclear powered warships (NPW). The number of vessels that could be supported at any one time would depend on size, draught, and their compatibility to berth ships alongside each other, the level of support required and the presence of any NPW.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's percentage land holding in Gibraltar is, broken down by service use.

Adam Ingram: The current size of the Ministry of Defence estate in Gibraltar is 149.9 hectares and this represents 22.9 per cent. of the total land area. This calculation includes those sites already transferred to the Gibraltar Government under the Lands Agreement signed between the Secretary of State for Defence and the Chief Minister in April 2004. When the implementation of this Agreement is complete (expected to be during 2010), the size of the estate will have reduced to 118.9 hectares or 18.18 per cent. of Gibraltar's total land area.
	It is impossible to break these figures down into individual service use, because of the tri-service nature of operations in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval ships from other countries have docked at Gibraltar in the last three years.

Adam Ingram: 38 warships from other countries docked in Gibraltar during the last three years. 10 other warships conducted bay transfers of stores and/or personnel with Gibraltar during this time; however, they did not dock alongside.

Gibraltar

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the planned implementation of his Department's contractorisation plan for Gibraltar on (a) number of jobs available in his Department and (b) number of remaining personnel employed directly by his Department; what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that its contractor will be able to pay its creditors' taxes and redundancy payments; and what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that local jobs are retained; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: There are currently around 296 locally employed civilian posts in scope to transfer under the Infrastructure Service Provider (ISP) Contract. It is not possible to say how many posts the successful contractor will retain until the bids have been evaluated and a contractor selected.
	The total number of locally employed civilian (LEC) staff in Gibraltar is approximately 1,000. The ISP will represent a 30 per cent. reduction of the locally employed staff in Gibraltar.
	As a part of the selection process, the MOD will ensure that only companies capable of delivering their legal and contractual obligations will be invited to tender.
	The Ministry of Defence is bound by and follows the laws of Gibraltar pertaining to recruitment. For those staff transferred to the successful ISP contractor, the provisions of the acquired rights directive (similar to TUPE provisions) activated under Gibraltar Law will apply.

Helicopters

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters in each class are (a) available for use, (b) under repair and (c) redundant or unrepairable.

Adam Ingram: The following table provides details of the in-service helicopters that are available for use, under repair, redundant or unrepairable as at 1 June 2005:
	
		
			 Helicopter type Available for use Under repair Unrepairable/Redundant 
		
		
			 Chinook Mk 2/2a 40 13 None 
			 Lynx Mk 7 60 22 16 
			 Lynx Mk 9 15 7 2 
			 Lynx Mk 3 23 8 8 
			 Lynx Mk 8 24 10 2 
			 Merlin Mk 1 29 13 2 
			 Merlin Mk 3 15 7 None 
			 Puma Mk 1 31 7 8 
			 Gazelle Mk 1 107 None 12 
			 Sea King Mk 3 13 6 None 
			 Sea King Mk 3a 4 2 None 
			 Sea King Mk 4 29 8 None 
			 Sea King Mk 5 13 3 1 
			 Sea King Mk 6 3 2 40 
			 Sea King Mk 6c 5 None None 
			 Sea King Mk 7 9 2 None 
			 Apache AH Mk1 56 11 None 
			 Agusta A109 4 None None 
		
	
	In addition to the aircraft listed in the table, the department contracts for a Commercially Owned Military Registered (COMR) fleet of helicopters. These helicopters are on the Military Register and flown by military aircrew, but are owned and maintained by commercial operators, these are shown in the following table. Servicing of the COMR helicopters is the responsibility of the leasing agency.
	
		
			 Helicopter type Available for use Under repair Unrepairable/Redundant 
		
		
			 Bell 412 15 None None 
			 Bell 212 7 None None 
			 Dauphin 2 None None 
			 Single Squirrel 37 None None 
			 Twin Squirrel 3 None None

Iran (Naval Equipment)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to recover the naval equipment held by the Iranian authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Diplomatic discussions are ongoing.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq referred to in a letter from the former Minister of State to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr submitted regular reports to his British superiors;
	(2)  what the remit was of the British Deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq in relation to (a) detainees and (b) operational matters;
	(3)  for what reasons and in what capacity Colonel Chris Terrington saw a version of the CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance policy document in December 2003;
	(4)  which (a) sections and (b) drafts of the interrogation and counter-resistance policy document were seen by the British Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq; and what comments he made;
	(5)  whether the UK officer acting as Deputy Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq advised (a) the US authorities and (b) his supervisors in the chain of command that some of the interrogation techniques in the CJIF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance Policy Document (i) were inhumane under UK case law and (ii) constituted a potential breach of the Geneva Conventions in the view of the Government;
	(6)  whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq asked Major George O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib;
	(7)  whether the British deputy in the office of the Senior Judge Advocate in Iraq saw the International Committee of the Red Cross working paper based on a visit to Abu Ghraib in October 2003.

Adam Ingram: I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Questions of 23 May 2005, Official Report, columns 24–25W, on the role of UK staff embedded within the office of the Staff Judge Advocate in the Combined Joint Task Force 7. I wrote to you on 16 June correcting an inaccuracy in a previous letter and attaching responses to these outstanding Parliamentary Questions. I am writing to you again now to set out in the body of a letter the answers I gave you so that they can be published in the Official Report.
	The British Officer embedded within the office of the Staff Judge Advocate had a very limited role in relation to detainees. In addition to providing comments on a US interrogation policy document in August 2003, he produced a summary of an ICRC Report in November 2003, which was circulated to senior personnel within CJTF-7. With regard to operational law, he provided advice on targeting and operational planning at Corps level. This involved the application of the Laws of Armed Conflict and US Rules of Engagement.
	The British Officer recalls submitting reports, both orally and in writing, to his British superiors. We have not been able to locate copies of those reports.
	The British Officer did not ask Major O'Kane to investigate allegations of abuse at Abu Ghraib.
	We have established that the British Officer did not see a version of the CJTF-7 Interrogation and Counter-Resistance" policy. The British Officer played no part in drafting that policy. This is contrary to my letter of 31 January 2005. I apologise for the error. In fact, the British Officer saw a separate US interrogation policy document dated 27 August 2003.
	That Document was entitled ABU GHURAYB: Saddam Fedayeen Interrogation Facility (SFIF) Detainee Interrogation Policy". We understand that it was drafted to apply to one section within Abu Ghraib, and the Fay report confirms that it was quickly superseded by the September version of the Interrogation and Counter-Resistance" policy, which we have not seen.
	It sets out a range of interrogation techniques which were considered to be lawful under the prevailing US interpretation of the Geneva Conventions. The document was written by and for US personnel to whom the US interpretation applied. The document was passed to us in confidence, and we cannot release details of its contents.
	I am placing a copy of this answer in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action has been taken on unexploded ordnance in the region of Iraq where the UK has responsibility; how much has been (a) allocated and (b) spent to date by the UK for this purpose; how much ordnance has been destroyed; what estimate has been made of unexploded ordnance still to be dealt with in the area; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The UK takes seriously its obligations to deal with unexploded ordnance in Iraq. Since the end of major combat operations, a UK Joint Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (currently about 90 strong) has been deployed alongside other coalition forces, NGOs and contractors clearing sites containing unexploded ordnance. During the war fighting phase over 200,000 items of munitions were destroyed by coalition teams. Since then a further 860,000 items have been recovered or destroyed by UK teams. The UK has uncovered 67 formal ammunition depots in the region of Iraq where the UK has responsibility. The UK has currently cleared 64 of these depots; the final three are in the process of being cleared.
	The Department for International Development has provided further funding to this area through UN-related organisations and a UK-registered charity, Mines Advisory Group. £30 million has been provided to the United Nations Development Group International Trust Fund to support Explosive Ordnance Disposal capacity building and clearance. Inaddition, £4 million has been directed to the UnitedNations Mines Action Service to provide the UN's humanitarian agencies with a responsive and co-ordinated mine action capability to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Further funding of around £2 million has been directed through the Mines Advisory Group to facilitate a number of projects.

Iraq

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for withdrawing UK troops from Iraq.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom is committed to remaining in Iraq for as long as the Iraqi Government judge that the coalition is required to provide security and assist the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). The prevailing security situation, progress on the political process and development of the ISF will be factors in determining the timeline for eventual UK force level reductions.

Iraq/Afghanistan

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US soldiers and (b) UK soldiers have been killed in (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan in each month since the end of the wars in those countries.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 June 2005
	Since the end of decisive operations in Iraq was announced in May 2003, a total of 53 UK soldiers have died.
	Since the Bonn agreement was signed in December 2001, four UK soldiers have died in Afghanistan.
	The following table shows the monthly breakdown.
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 January — — — 3(1) 10 
			 February — — — 1 0 
			 March — — — 0 1 
			 April — (1) — 0 0 
			 May — — 2 0 2 
			 June — — 6 1 — 
			 July — — 1 1 — 
			 August — (2) 6 4 — 
			 September — — 1 3 — 
			 October — — 1 2 — 
			 November — — 1 4 — 
			 December — — 2 1 — 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures in brackets relate to deaths in Afghanistan, all other figures refer to deaths in Iraq.
	The number of US soldiers that have died on operations is a matter for the US Government.

Joint Strike Fighter

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK has contributed to the development costs of the Joint Strike Fighter; and what further pre-delivery payments will be required.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom's financial commitment to the current Systems Design and Development phase is limited to $2 billion. No further pre-delivery payments have been agreed.

Joint US Operations

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many munitions were fired by RAF aircraft in support of US forces during their involvement in Operation Spear;
	(2)  what the rules of engagement were for UK forces deployed in support of the recent US Operation Spear in north-western Iraq;
	(3)  how many sorties were flown by UK aircraft in support of the recent US Operation Spear in north-western Iraq;
	(4)  how many RAF tornadoes were used in support of the recent US Operation Spear in Iraq; and which mark of tornado was deployed;
	(5)  if he will list the UK forces used in support of the recent US Operation Spear in north-western Iraq.

Adam Ingram: No specific sorties were planned in support of Operation Spear although three RAF Tornado GR4s on routine patrols were tasked to respond to calls for assistance from US forces during the operation. UK aircraft did not expend any weapons in support of Operation Spear. We do not comment on rules of engagement for reasons of operational security.

Lynx Mk 3/8 Helicopter

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his Answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 442W, on the Royal Navy, what the expected out-of-service date is for the Lynx Mk 3/8 helicopter.

Adam Ingram: The expected out-of-service date for the Lynx Mk 3 is 2012 and for the Lynx Mk 8 is 2014.

Ministerial Meetings

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average time is that an hon. Member has waited for a meeting with him to be arranged since his appointment.

John Reid: Together with my ministerial colleagues, I endeavour to meet with hon. Members at the earliest possible opportunity after I receive a request, consistent with my other diary commitments.

NAO Report

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his timescale is for responding to the National Audit Office report on military preparedness; what form his response will take; and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The Ministry of Defence welcomes the National Audit Office report on Assessing and Reporting Military Readiness which concludes that the MOD has a good system for reporting the readiness levels of the armed forces, an increasingly good understanding of the risks to readiness and good plans in place to mitigate these risks.
	We are already taking forward work in the areas covered by the NAO's recommendations for further technical improvements in our internal risk management arrangements and in the public reporting of readiness under our public service agreement. Information on the readiness of our armed forces is routinely available on the MOD website at www.mod.uk and this shows that at the end of March no forces were reporting critical weakness which would make it impossible to deploy them on new operations if required. The National Audit Office reports to Parliament. The Department will respond to any recommendations that the Public Accounts Committee might make, if they choose to do so, in due course.

Omagh Resident Battalion

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used when deciding whether to replace the 1stBattalion King's Own Scottish Borders at Omagh when they conclude their term as the Omagh Resident Battalion in August 2006.

Adam Ingram: The decision not to replace the 1stBattalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers at Omagh when they conclude their term as the Omagh Resident Battalion in August 2006 was based on the assessment by the General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) and Chief Constable Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) of the improving security situation. It reflects the increasing success of the PSNI in dealing with the threat from terrorism without routine military support.
	The Army remains committed to providing the support that the PSNI requires to counter the threat from terrorism and to prevent potential public disorder, and will continue to keep force levels in Northern Ireland under regular review.

Portsmouth Nuclear Accident Plan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available in the Library a copy of the Portsmouth nuclear accident plan.

Adam Ingram: In the highly unlikely event of a nuclear incident, in accordance with the independent national regulations, the Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations (REPPIR) 2001, the city of Portsmouth is covered by a detailed emergency plan (PORTSAFE) for which the local authority (Portsmouth city council) is responsible. This is available locally in public libraries and can also be obtained by contacting the Portsmouth city council emergency planning officer.

Prisoners of War (Compensation)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the memorandum of 13 July 2001 from Mr. Alan Mayers of the Department's Far East Prisoners of War Group to Mr. John Hardy, Army Historical Branch, which states that race was included as a deciding factor in the eligibility criteria for the compensation scheme.

Don Touhig: This document was a statement by one official in 2001. It did not and does not represent the view of the Government. The question of whether theapplication of one of the eligibility criteria of the ExGratia Payment Scheme for Far East Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees may have constituted race discrimination is the subject of judicial review proceedings.

Prisoners of War (Compensation)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2004 in the Cabinet Office concerning the Far East Prisoners of War Compensation Scheme which agreed that the eligibility criteria should define UK nationals as civilian internees who were British at the time of their incarceration.

Don Touhig: There was no meeting of the inter-departmental working group in the Cabinet Office on 22 November 2004 to discuss the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme for former Far East Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees and it is assumed that this question relates to the meeting held on 22 November 2000. The question under consideration at that meeting was whether eligibility relied on an applicant having been British at the time of internment or at the time of making a claim under the Ex Gratia Payment Scheme. The decision taken was that the relevant date was the time of captivity and that any subsequent change of nationality did not affect eligibility.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) class and role, (b) date of entry into service, (c) expected date of removal from service and (d) average annual cost of maintenance over the period of service is of each ship of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is shown as follows:
	
		
			 Ship In service date Expected out of service date(1) Class Role 
		
		
			 Argus 1988 2020 — Aviation Training Ship and Primary Casualty Reception Ship 
			 Diligence 1984 2014 — Forward Repair Ship 
			 Grey Rover 1970 2006  
			 Gold Rover 1974 2009 Rover Small Fleet Tanker 
			 Black Rover 1974 2010   
			 Oakleaf 1986 2010  
			 Brambleleaf 1980 2009   
			 Orangeleaf 1984 2009 Leaf Support Tanker 
			 Bayleaf 1982 2010   
			 Fort Rosalie 1978 2013  
			 Fort Austin 1979 2014   
			 Fort George 1994 2019 Fort Fleet Replenishment Ships 
			 Fort Victoria 1994 2019   
			 Sir Bedivere 1967 2011  
			 Sir Tristram 1967 2006 Sir Landing Ship Logistic 
			 Sir Galahad 1987 2006   
			 Wave Knight 2003 2028 Wave Fleet Tanker 
			 Wave Ruler 2003 2028   
		
	
	(1)These dates are kept under regular review in the light of the Royal Navy's requirements.
	Detailed records of the cost of maintaining each ship over its entire service are not held. However, the average cost of maintenance is estimated at £3.5 million per annum for each vessel. This includes maintenance on operational vessels, defect rectification, post design work, stock consumption and small packages of upkeep. In addition an element has been included to reflect the cost of scheduled refits, which are generally undertaken on a five yearly basis for each vessel.

Sandhurst (Security Breach)

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive the report from the Commandant, concerning the breach of security by a Sun reporter at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

John Reid: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Commandant has already taken a number of measures to enhance security at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in particular to ensure that all visitors are escorted at all times. Separately the Adjutant General has directed a detailed review of security procedures and processes. This is expected to conclude within a matter of weeks. I am being kept informed of the progress of this review.

Service Personnel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are (a) deployed and (b) stationed in (i) Germany, (ii)Northern Ireland, (iii) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (iv)Croatia, (v) Kosovo, (vi) Albania, (vii) the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, (viii) Sierra Leone, (ix) the Gulf Region, (x) Turkey, (xi) Gibraltar, (xii) Belize, (xiii) Kenya, (xiv) Canada, (xv) the FalklandIslands, (xvi) Cyprus, (xvii) Brunei and (xviii)Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: The approximate number of British service personnel deployed or stationed in the locations specified are shown as follows:
	
		All figures rounded
		
			  Deployed Stationed 
		
		
			 Germany 0 22,200 
			 Northern Ireland 0 10,400 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 750 0 
			 Croatia 0 0 
			 Kosovo 170 0 
			 Albania 0 0 
			 FYR of Macedonia 10 0 
			 Sierra Leone 10 0 
			 The Gulf Region 9,200 0 
			 Turkey 0 0 
			 Gibraltar 0 560 
			 Belize 0 50 
			 Kenya (training team only) 0 10 
			 Canada (training team only) 0 220 
			 The Falkland Islands 1,150 0 
			 Cyprus 300 2,900 
			 Brunei 0 430 
			 Afghanistan 980 0 
		
	
	The figures in the table do not include personnel serving in loan/diplomatic posts or training detachments.

Training Contracts (PFI)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the training contracts being considered for private finance initiative solutions.

Adam Ingram: A number of requirements are being considered under the private finance initiative which include an element of training provision. These are:
	Royal School of Military Engineering—a contract to provide training facilities and construction engineering training for the Royal Engineers.
	Defence Training Review—contracts to meet rationalisation objectives while providing in-service specialised military training needs.
	Military Flying Training Service—a contract to provide a comprehensive flying training system, some of which may be provided via a PFI route.
	A400M Synthetic Training Service—a contract for the provision of training for transport aircraft aircrew.
	Battlefield Reconnaissance Helicopter/Service Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft Synthetic Training Service—a contract for the provision of training for helicopter aircrew.

Training Exercises (Uzbekistan)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises UK military forces have undertaken with Uzbekistan military forces in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In the last five years the United Kingdom forces have undertaken one exercise with the armed forces of Uzbekistan. Exercise TIMUR EXPRESS, a peacekeeping exercise, took place in Uzbekistan from 11 September 2004 to 25 September 2004. It was a company-level exercise, and the 146-person UK element was provided by the Territorial Army. The other states involved were Kazakhstan, Georgia and Ukraine.

Troop Deployment (Basra)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has held concerning the deployment of UK troops outside the Basra area; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The posture of United Kingdom forces in Iraq is kept under constant review. UK forces are already deployed outside the Basra area", predominately in other parts of Multi-National Division (South East) but also in Baghdad as part of the Multi-National Force—Iraq Headquarters and the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. There are no current plans to change existing UK force dispositions in Iraq.

Uzbekistan

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel from the armed forces of Uzbekistan have been trained in the United Kingdom in each year since 1997; and where this training took place.

Adam Ingram: Since 1997, personnel from the armed forces of Uzbekistan have been trained in the United Kingdom as follows:
	Individual Officer Training at RAF Cranwell
	Two cadets in 2004–05
	Individual Officer Training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
	Two cadets in 2004–05
	Arms Control Training at RAF Henlow
	Three personnel in January 2000
	Crisis Management Training at Defence Academy Shrivenham
	One Army Major in April 2000
	Peace Support Operations Doctrine Seminar at Land Warfare Centre. Warminster
	Three personnel in May 2000
	Seminar on UK Methodology for Military Aid, at Defence Academy Shrivenham
	One Lieutenant Colonel in July 2000
	War-Fighting Doctrine Seminar. Land Warfare Centre. Warminster
	One Lieutenant Colonel in May 1999
	International Collective Training Seminar. Land Warfare Centre, Warminster
	One Army Major in February 2003, three in June 2004
	Service Personnel Management Course, at Headquarters Army Training and Recruitment Agency, Upavon
	One Army Major in July 2004
	Course on Managing Defence in a Democracy. Defence Academy Shrivenham
	One Lieutenant Colonel in July 2003
	MSc in Global Security, at Defence Academy Shrivenham
	One Lieutenant Colonel, August 2003 to August 2004
	Territorial Army Summer Camps
	Two Uzbek cadets in September 2003, six in July 2004
	NCO Training Seminar at Infantry Training Centre. Brecon
	Two personnel in February 2004
	All the listed training is predicated on the ability of the participants to speak English. Consequently, the following numbers of Uzbek officers have received language training:
	British Military English Course, at the University of Ripon and York St. John's
	21 personnel trained between April 1999 and June 2005
	English Military Vocabulary course, at Defence School of Languages. Beaconsfield
	One Army Major in May 2003

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Apprenticeships

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships were (a) started, (b) on programme and (c) completed in (i)2002–03, (ii) 2003–04 and (iii) 2004–05.

Phil Hope: The information requested is routinely published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Statistical First Releases (SFRs). The numbers of starts and the number on programme (in-learning) on apprenticeships in 2002/03, 2003/04 and the first three months of 2004/05 are shown in tables 4 and 5 of the LSC SFR Further Education, Work Based Learning for Young People and Adult and Community Learning—Learner Numbers in England on 1 October 2004", available on the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000567/index.shtml
	Apprenticeship framework completion rates and the total number of leavers in 2002/03 and 2003/04 will be shown in table 7 of the forthcoming LSC SFR Further Education and Work Based Learning for Young People—Learner Outcomes in England: 2003/04", due to be published at 9.30 am on 28 June, and will be available on the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000583/index.shtml
	Provisional figures for the first six months of 2004/05 are available on the LSC's apprenticeships website: http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/partners/frameworks/apprenticeshipsdata

Apprenticeships

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated towards achieving the target of 320,000 apprentices by 2008; and whether she expects the target to be achieved.

Phil Hope: The Department does not have a target for the number of apprenticeships in 2008. However, we are committed to the continued expansion of apprenticeships, and if growth continues along its current lines, we would expect around 300,000 apprenticeships to be in training by that time.

Apprenticeships

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships there were in each year between 1994 and 1996.

Bill Rammell: Apprenticeships, formerly Modern Apprenticeships, were launched as an initiative in September 1994. By the end of July 1995, there were 2,100 people on apprenticeship programmes. They were fully operational from September 1995 and at the end of July 1996, there were 35,100 people on them. These figures are taken from the DfES Statistical First Release Government Supported, Work Based Learning for Young People in England: 2001/02", available on the DfES website: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000358/index.shtml.

Autistic Spectrum Disorders

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many training courses for those working with people with autistic spectrum disorders are funded through learning and skills councils in (a) Staffordshire, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Lady with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Business Support (Hertfordshire)

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she is taking to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Specific measures to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire are a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Member with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	The Government's Skills Strategy, 21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005) set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills. The 14–19 White Paper, 14–19 Education and Skills", published in February, set out proposals to improve vocational education and qualifications for young people through a national entitlement to specialised diplomas in 14 broad sector areas. Employers, through Sector Skills Councils, will lead in their design and higher education institutions will also have an important role to play.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. Charles Walker, dated 8 June 2005
	Thank you for your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills where you ask what measures she will take to encourage vocational skills training in Hertfordshire. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply on her behalf as Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council.
	In its Strategic Area Review, the LSC for Hertfordshire recognises that the depth and breadth of vocational learning in Hertfordshire is limited. It is working with partners to develop vocational provision for 14–16 year olds. For example, the Increased Flexibility Programme offers young people the opportunity to undertake vocational qualifications, usually undertaking some work at the local College. Nearly 1,500 Hertfordshire young people are currently on the programme. The LSC is also supporting collaboration between schools and colleges for 16–19 year olds, with Colleges leading on developing the vocational elements. Excellent examples of this work can be seen in Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, with encouraging developments in Hemel Hempstead, Broxbourne and St. Albans. In Bishops Stortford, Hertford Regional College is working with Birchwood High School to develop vocational provision on the school site, with funding support from the LSC.
	In many parts of Hertfordshire the Further Education infrastructure is in an unsatisfactory condition. The LSC has supported the development of facilities for Learners with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities at Ware, and for construction at Broxbourne (which is due to open this September). Major campus redevelopments are being planned at 3 of Hertfordshire's 4 Colleges—Oaklands, West Herts and Hertford Regional. Plans for establishing a Skills Centre" in Hemel Hempstead are also being developed with West Herts College, working closely with the Dacorum schools.
	Working with employers, The LSC has established Sector Employer Groups in key sectors for the Hertfordshire economy. These are providing employers with a voice for expressing their needs, and a means of communicating with learning providers so that relevant provision is developed and delivered. We are also working with the University of Hertfordshire and the four Hertfordshire Further Education Colleges to increase the number and range of Foundation Degrees offered in the County through the Colleges and the University of Hertfordshire. We expect to have Foundation Degrees in nine subjects available by September 2005.
	I trust this helps with your query.

Community Development Centres

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans her Department has for the funding for Community Development Centres in (a) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency and (b) England.

Phil Hope: holding answer 13 June 2005
	Cumbria county council's Adult Education Service currently contracts with Community Development Centres, a local term used in Cumbria, to describe sites located in primary schools which deliver adult learning courses covering a range of subjects with a significant focus on IT. How such education is organised is a matter for the county council. Its Adult Education Service is in regular dialogue with LSC Cumbria about how its provision can contribute to local, regional and national priorities. These include supporting adults to improve their literacy and numeracy skills and to engage with learning locally, so that in due course they can progress towards gaining a Level 2 qualification. Community Development Centres, as present in Cumbria, are not generally found across England.

Consultants

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the Department intends to take forward the recommendations of its auditors' report into the use of consultants in the Department.

Bill Rammell: DfES management have agreed an action plan with internal audit to address the issues raised by the joint National Audit Office and DfES internal audit report on Engagement and Use of Consultants in DfES. The agreed actions, which are being implemented, will be monitored by DfES internal audit in the course of their normal follow-up procedures.

Consultants

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recommendations of the auditors' report on the use of consultants in the Department.

Bill Rammell: The joint National Audit Office and DfES internal audit review of Engagement and Use of Consultants identified shortcomings in compliance with departmental guidance. An action plan to address issues identified in the audit has been agreed with DfES management This will be monitored by DfES internal audit as part of their normal follow up procedures.
	Additionally, the National Audit Office and internal audit have prepared a good practice guide on the engagement and use of consultants which has been distributed to all divisions in the Department. A copy of this guide will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Dyslexia

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school children in Lancashire had dyslexia in the last period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The requested information is not collected centrally.
	Pupils with specific learning difficulties have a particular difficulty in learning to read, write, spell or manipulate numbers and this includes pupils with dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. We do not collect data on dyslexia alone, but provisional figures as at January 2005 indicate that there were 2,000 pupils in maintained primary, secondary and special schools with specific learning difficulties in Lancashire local education authority area.

Education Maintenance Allowance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teenagers in Leeds West have received the education maintenance allowance; what the average award has been; and how much has been received in total.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Friend with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom to Mr. John Battle, dated 16 June 2005
	I am writing in response to your Parliamentary Question that asked the number of young people who have received Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in the Leeds West Area, what the average award has been and how much has been received in total."
	Information on the number of young people who have applied, enrolled and received EMA is available at Local Authority level, but not at constituency level. By the end of May 2005, 5,606 young people in the Leeds Local Authority area had received one or more EMA payments.
	EMA is awarded in three defined payment bands of £30, £20 and £10, depending on household income. In Leeds Local Authority the take-up of EMA by payment band is split as follows: 78% on £30 per week, 10% on £20 per week and 12% on £10 per week (based on an analysis of young people attending a school or college in the Leeds Local Authority area). This breakdown is very similar to the national average.
	We do not break down cost data to show specifically how much is spent in each Local Authority area. The total cost of EMA payments during the academic year 2004/2005 in England at 31 May 2005 was approximately £206,000,000.
	I hope this information is helpful and addresses your question. If you would like further details please contact Chris Bradley at the LSC National Office on 0114 207 4512 or Christopher. bradley@lsc.gov.uk

Paternity Leave

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to change provisions for paternity leave;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to introduce shared parental leave in the second six months after a child's birth.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government want to give families more choice about how to balance their work and caring responsibilities. The Work and Families: Choice and Flexibility" consultation sought views on how to enable fathers to share a proportion of the mother's maternity leave and pay. We are currently considering the responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.

Paternity Leave

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what research the Government have commissioned on the percentage of fathers who would stay home to look after children if it was financially viable to do so.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have been asked to reply.
	The DTI part funded the Equal Opportunities Commission's report Fathers and the First Year" which was published on 16 June 2005. The report indicates that almost 80 per cent. of working fathers surveyed said they would be happy to stay at home and look after their child, but did not provide any information as to whether financial considerations affected that response.

Prison Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 490W, on prison education, what the targets are for numbers of offenders acquiring Basic Skills Level qualifications beyond (a) entry level, (b) level 1 and (c) level 2; and how many offenders acquired these qualifications in each year since 2002.

Phil Hope: The framework for basic skills qualifications is set out in Skills for Life", the national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy skills. That document contains no basic skills level qualifications beyond level 2 and therefore, as part of our aim to bring offender learning and skills in line with mainstream learning and skills provision, there are no targets for basic skills achievements by offenders in qualifications beyond entry level and levels 1 and 2.

Sector Skills Councils

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the date of licence of each Sector Skills Council is, listed in chronological order; what employment sector each covers; how many employers each covers; and what the most recent annual budget was of each.

Phil Hope: The following table provides information on Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) which are independent organisations. The number of employers is a broad estimate and excludes sole traders. The amount of public funding each SSC receives through the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) is detailed as follows on an accruals basis, for the year ending 31 March 2005. However, the information about the budgets of each SSC is commercially confidential as most generate significant amounts of external funding.
	
		
			  SSC  Month licensed  Sector/industry covered Employers Covered SSDA funding 2004–05 (£000) 
		
		
			 e-Skills UK April 2003 IT, telecoms and contact centres 133,655 5,594 
			 SEMTA April 2003 Science, engineering and manufacturing technologies 66,428 2,937 
			 ConstructionSkills September 2003 Construction 213,184 3,166 
			 SkillsActive October 2003 Active leisure and learning 24,843 1,876 
			 Automotive Skills December 2003 Retail, maintenance and repair motor industry 76,284 2,225 
			 Energy and Utility Skills December 2003 Electricity, gas, water, and waste management 15,786 1,782 
			 SummitSkills December 2003 Building services engineering 50,213 1,981 
			 Skillfast-UK January 2004 Apparel, footwear and textiles 28,065 2,208 
			 Skillset January 2004 Broadcast, film, video and media 25,208 3,071 
			 Cogent Plus February 2004 Chemical, nuclear, oil and gas extraction, petroleum and polymer 20,114 2,080 
			 Skills for Logistics February 2004 Freight logistics 63,490 1,519 
			 Financial Services Skills Council April 2004 Financial services 45,289 2,079 
			 Lantra April 2004 Environmental and land based 13,943 2,569 
			 People 1st April 2004 Hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism 184,105 2,422 
			 Skills for Health April 2004 Health sector 45,047 1,809 
			 Skills for Justice April 2004 Custodial care, community justice and Police 4,745 2,245 
			 Improve Ltd June 2004 Food and drink 9,565 2,538 
			 Asset Skills September 2004 Property, housing, cleaning and facilities management 121,853 1,789 
			 Skillsmart September 2004 Retail 279,533 2,640 
			 GoSkills November 2004 Passenger transport 18,125 1,827 
			 Lifelong Learning UK January 2005 Learning delivery 24,575 1,533 
			 Skills for Care and Development February 2005 Social care, children and young people 57,477 569 
			 Creative and Cultural Skills June 2005 Museums, music, crafts, galleries and arts 37,940 879

Special Educational Needs/Tribunals

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of (a) Mayfield and (b) Astley special schools in Chorley.

Maria Eagle: Under arrangements introduced in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, the consideration of proposals for establishing, altering, or discontinuing maintained special schools are a matter for local decision making.

Special Educational Needs/Tribunals

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special schools there are in Lancashire education authority; and if she will make a statement on the long-term provision of special needs education in Lancashire.

Maria Eagle: Removing Barriers to Achievement", our SEN strategy, provides a clear long-term vision for improving support and outcomes for children with SEN. It sets out action to ensure that children with SEN receive the help they need as quickly as possible, from schools and other services. The SEN strategy was informed by a review of special schools. Special schools have a vital role teaching children with the most severe and complex needs, and sharing expertise with mainstream schools.
	In January 2005 there were 32 maintained special schools in Lancashire local education authority. The schools are listed as follows.
	
		
			 School number  
		
		
			 119860 Burnley Calder View Special School 
			 119861 Bleasdale House Community Special School 
			 119863 Burnley Westway School 
			 119864 Sherburn School 
			 119865 Moorfield School 
			 119866 Moorbrook School 
			 119869 Massey Hall School 
			 119870 Elms School 
			 119872 Burnley Primrose Hill School 
			 119873 Wennington Hall School 
			 119876 Morecambe Road School 
			 119877 Chorley Astley Park School 
			 119878 Great Arley School 
			 119879 Rawtenstall Cribden House Community  Special School 
			 119880 Lostock Hall Moor Hey School 
			 119881 Colne Gibfield School 
			 119882 North Cliffe School 
			 119883 Oswaldtwistle Broadfield School 
			 119886 Black Moss School 
			 119887 Kirkham Pear Tree School 
			 119889 Mayfield School 
			 119890 Nelson Townhouse School 
			 119891 Tor View School 
			 119892 The Loyne School 
			 119893 The Coppice School 
			 119894 Oswaldtwistle White Ash School 
			 119895 Brookfield School 
			 119897 Thornton-Cleveleys Red Marsh School 
			 119898 Beacon School 
			 131093 Kingsbury School 
			 131479 Hillside School, Longridge 
			 133688 Royal Cross Primary School

Special Educational Needs/Tribunals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to her answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 593W, on special needs tribunals, in how many cases appellants (a) were successful, (b) were unsuccessful, (c) withdrew their cases and (d) settled cases outside tribunal, broken down by local education authority.

Maria Eagle: We do not collect information in this format; cases settled outside the tribunal result in a parental withdrawal or LEA concession, so data is provided under those two heads.
	The following table shows appeal outcomes by LEA for the reporting year 2003–04. It shows the number of appeals withdrawn by the parent, conceded by the LEA and decided by the tribunal. Of those decided it shows the number upheld and the number dismissed, where upheld refers to any decision where the tribunal found in favour of the parents on any part of their appeal.
	
		Appeal outcomes by LEA for period 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004
		
			  Withdrawn Conceded Decided Upheld Dismissed 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 3 18 7 6 1 
			 Barnet 28 8 16 15 1 
			 Barnsley 3 2 7 4 3 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1 1 3 3 0 
			 Bedfordshire 22 11 8 7 1 
			 Bexley 19 1 3 2 1 
			 Birmingham 68 15 51 40 11 
			 Blackburn 2 0 4 3 1 
			 Blackpool 4 0 1 1 0 
			 Blaneau Gwent 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Bolton 4 0 6 3 3 
			 Bournemouth 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Bracknell Forest 5 0 2 1 1 
			 Bradford 7 6 8 5 3 
			 Brent 9 0 11 3 8 
			 Bridgend 2 0 1 0 1 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 2 9 9 0 
			 Bristol City 28 1 17 14 3 
			 Bromley 25 4 48 43 5 
			 Buckinghamshire 27 2 4 4 0 
			 Bury 4 0 8 5 3 
			 Caerphilly 0 0 3 3 0 
			 Calderdale 4 5 12 7 5 
			 Cambridgeshire 13 12 5 3 2 
			 Camden 14 1 3 3 0 
			 Cardiff 1 3 6 4 2 
			 Carmarthenshire 0 0 2 2 0 
			 Cheshire 14 5 11 10 1 
			 Cornwall 20 2 17 13 4 
			 Coventry 4 0 1 1 0 
			 Croydon 18 24 17 11 6 
			 Cumbria 17 1 6 5 1 
			 Darlington 4 0 5 3 2 
			 Derby City 4 0 4 3 1 
			 Derbyshire 10 8 9 6 3 
			 Devon 23 2 6 4 2 
			 Doncaster 7 0 7 5 2 
			 Dorset 4 0 3 3 0 
			 Dudley 10 1 2 1 1 
			 Durham 17 18 12 8 4 
			 Ealing 10 2 10 9 1 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1 0 5 5 0 
			 East Sussex 27 6 40 34 6 
			 Enfield 10 1 3 3 0 
			 Essex 59 23 25 18 7 
			 Flintshire 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Gateshead 7 2 4 4 0 
			 Gloucestershire 14 1 8 5 3 
			 Greenwich 14 1 11 7 4 
			 Gwynedd 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Hackney 10 18 11 8 3 
			 Halton 4 1 1 1 0 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 4 2 2 1 1 
			 Hampshire 60 27 27 22 5 
			 Haringey 7 5 14 10 4 
			 Harrow 14 1 11 10 1 
			 Hartlepool 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Havering 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Herefordshire 3 4 2 2 0 
			 Hertfordshire 26 21 34 28 6 
			 Hillingdon 4 2 9 8 1 
			 Hounslow 4 1 4 4 0 
			 Isle of Anglesey 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight 5 1 4 3 1 
			 Islington 6 6 3 3 0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 4 0 6 5 1 
			 Kent 46 55 34 20 14 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 6 4 7 6 1 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull, City 6 1 4 4 0 
			 Kirklees 6 4 5 4 1 
			 Knowsley 5 2 3 2 1 
			 Lambeth 16 15 27 22 5 
			 Lancashire 55 18 7 4 3 
			 Leeds 10 11 9 7 2 
			 Leicester City 17 5 5 3 2 
			 Leicestershire 14 8 20 14 6 
			 Lewisham 16 6 28 24 4 
			 Lincolnshire 21 15 23 18 5 
			 Liverpool 14 4 11 7 4 
			 Luton 3 4 5 5 0 
			 Manchester 12 4 10 7 3 
			 Medway 3 10 1 0 1 
			 Merton 9 1 5 3 2 
			 Middlesbrough 2 2 0 0 0 
			 Milton Keynes 9 3 1 1 0 
			 Monmouthshire 0 0 2 1 1 
			 Neath Port Talbot 1 0 2 2 0 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1 0 5 4 1 
			 Newham 14 1 11 7 4 
			 Newport 4 0 6 4 2 
			 Norfolk 26 5 19 17 2 
			 North East Lincolnshire 10 10 0 0 0 
			 North Lincolnshire 6 6 3 3 0 
			 North Somerset 7 1 5 3 2 
			 North Tyneside 0 0 1 0 1 
			 North Yorkshire 9 6 5 5 0 
			 Northamptonshire 4 2 6 6 0 
			 Northumberland 3 0 1 1 0 
			 Nottingham City 4 4 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 13 4 4 0 
			 Oldham 6 0 5 4 1 
			 Oxfordshire 22 4 14 11 3 
			 Peterborough 4 0 4 3 1 
			 Plymouth 1 1 1 1 0 
			 Poole 0 0 3 1 2 
			 Portsmouth 3 1 4 3 1 
			 Reading 3 0 0 0 0 
			 Redbridge 10 5 9 7 2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 12 6 13 10 3 
			 Rochdale 3 0 0 0 0 
			 Rotherham 9 3 6 6 0 
			 Salford 9 3 6 4 2 
			 Sandwell 8 2 3 3 0 
			 Sefton 2 3 6 5 1 
			 Sheffield 3 5 4 2 2 
			 Shropshire 6 8 4 2 2 
			 Slough 2 4 3 3 0 
			 Solihull 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Somerset 7 5 19 14 5 
			 South Gloucestershire 6 3 8 7 1 
			 South Tyneside 3 1 1 1 0 
			 Southampton 3 1 6 4 2 
			 Southend 6 0 4 3 1 
			 Southwark 17 3 8 8 0 
			 St. Helens 2 0 1 1 0 
			 Staffordshire 18 6 21 13  
			 Stockport 2 0 3 2 1 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 0 2 1 0 1 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 3 1 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 14 15 18 17 1 
			 Sunderland 3 5 4 4 0 
			 Surrey 49 23 29 26 3 
			 Sutton 10 0 2 2 0 
			 Swansea 1 0 1 0 1 
			 Swindon 2 1 2 2 0 
			 Tameside 8 1 1 0 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 4 5 2 2 0 
			 Thurrock 4 1 3 3 0 
			 Torbay 6 0 4 2 2 
			 Torfaen 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Tower Hamlets 2 0 1 1 0 
			 Trafford 3 0 3 2 1 
			 Vale of Glamorgan 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield 4 0 6 5 1 
			 Walsall 17 1 21 19 2 
			 Waltham Forest 10 3 3 3 0 
			 Wandsworth 19 0 9 7 2 
			 Warrington 5 1 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 6 0 6 4 2 
			 West Berkshire 0 1 0 0 0 
			 West Sussex 29 11 12 8 4 
			 Westminster 5 3 7 5 2 
			 Wigan Wiltshire 1 8 5 3 2 
			 Wiltshire 18 7 18 16 2 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 1 6 4 4 0 
			 Wirral 8 1 5 4 1 
			 Wokingham 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Wolverhampton 1 0 2 1 1 
			 Worcestershire 20 1 9 5 4 
			 Wrexham 1 1 0 0 0 
			 York City 1 1 1 0 1 
			 Total 1,533 661 1,195 930 265

Sure Start

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what relationship extended schools will have with Sure Start children's centres.

Beverley Hughes: We want to see strong links between extended schools and children's centres. Children's centres provide holistic services, including access to integrated early learning and care, health and family support for children under five and their families. They are being established across the country in every community by 2010. We also expect all schools to be offering extended services by that date.
	It is up to local authorities to determine where children's centres should be located in order to best serve their communities' needs. However, where possible we expect children's centres to be developed from existing services which will include nursery, primary and secondary schools. Children's centres may wish to consider co-locating with schools, especially primary schools and offering joint services, to provide a more streamlined service to parents and families, providing services for all those with children aged 0–11 in one place. This would particularly benefit those parents with pre-school children and children of primary school age.

Young Runaways

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how she plans to evaluate the pilot scheme for flexible community-based accommodation for young runaways.

Maria Eagle: The community based flexible refuges were funded on the basis that they would be responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of their services within their communities. At the end of the pilot period, the DfES will consider how best to collate the lessons from these individual evaluations, in order to inform future policy and delivery of services for young runaways.

CABINET OFFICE

Child Care Vouchers

Tim Boswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Government Departments which (a) have adopted, (b) are in the process of adopting and (c) have rejected the scheme for foregoing employee salary in favour of child care vouchers.

John Hutton: The information requested is not held centrally. Individual Government departments are responsible for their own arrangements for child care support for their staff.

Government Car Despatch Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the (a) upper and (b) lower age limits are for drivers employed by the Government Car Despatch Agency.

John Hutton: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Government Car Despatch Agency

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether Mrs. Barbara Smith is a permanent employee of the Government Despatch Agency; to which Department she is assigned; for how long she has worked for the agency; when her contract started; for how long she has been a driver for Mr. David Blunkett; whether she is his official driver; and how many Government vehicles she is permitted to drive.

John Hutton: The responsibility for the provision of ministerial cars and drivers has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive Mr. Roy Burke to write to the hon. Member. Copies of his letter will be placed in the Library.

Lord Birt

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what caused the ceiling in Lord Birt's office to collapse; and how much it is estimated the repair will cost.

John Hutton: The cost of repairing the ceiling collapse, which was caused by a leak, and associated cleaning was £2,773.

Showground (Garstang)

Ben Wallace: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Duchy has for a showground near Garstang in Lancashire.

John Hutton: The Duchy of Lancaster office has been investigating the possibility of the former Myerscough Quarry becoming a strategic rural Gateway" for Lancashire, acting as an interface between rural and urban interests and to diversify the local rural economy. Integral to this is the provision of a regional showground and events facility.
	This is still in the early stages of consultation with local stakeholders.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

British Nuclear Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to seek to realise capital receipts from the disposal of BNFL assets in (a) Westinghouse and (b) Urenco.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 20 June 2005
	The Government's and BNFL's position on Westinghouse (and other BNFL businesses) has not changed since the 2003 BNFL Joint Strategy Review. The businesses are being managed to deliver value and in a way that limits and controls risk to the UK taxpayer. As agreed in 2003, the Westinghouse business has been operating with greater financial independence from its parent, so that possibilities for private sector participation can be opened up.
	Under the strategy of delivering shareholder value the BNFL board continues to discuss strategic options with its long-term adviser, N M Rothschild.

British Nuclear Fuels

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels about the court action being taken against Kernkraftwerk Brokdorf GmbH.

Malcolm Wicks: None.

Clean Coal Technology

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to support the development of clean coal technology in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: The UK's Carbon Abatement Technologies strategy was launched on the 14 June. This sets out the work programme needed to support the development of sustainable fossil fuel technologies mainly using coal and natural gas. It recognises that fossil fuels will continue to be a major source of energy for decades to come and that technologies need to be developed and deployed which will radically reduce CO 2 emissions from the use of these fuels. Improved combustion efficiency and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) are seen as the key technologies for achieving this aim.
	The Government have announced funding of some £25 million towards demonstration of carbon abatement technologies as part of a £40 million package of support for clean energy technologies. Also, in his Budget statement this year the Chancellor undertook to assess support for the development of CCS in the Climate Change Programme Review (CCPR), including the potential for economic incentives.
	In addition to this we will continue to fund research and development in this area under the DTI's Technology Programme. Under the Cleaner Coal Technology R and D Programme from 1999 up to 2008, the Government will have committed some £13.5 million in supporting UK industry to develop cleaner coal technologies. In addition to this we are also committing some £3.5 million for UK industry and academia to collaborate with the USA to develop these technologies.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 2001–02; and for each year on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

Alun Michael: Records of IT security incidents reported within the Department for the period in question show:
	Theft
	The number of reported thefts of computers is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of thefts 
		
		
			 2002–03 34 
			 2003–04 35 
			 2004–05 24 
			 2005–06 (to date) 10 
		
	
	There have been no recorded incidents of computer fraud or of the Department's computer systems being illegally accessed by computer hackers within or outside the Department in the period in question.

Copyright (Sound Recording)

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the extension of copyright term for sound recording.

Alan Johnson: Any extension of the term of protection for sound recordings would require a change to the EC directive which harmonises copyright terms across the EU and there are currently no proposals for such an amendment to this directive. Those who have rights in sound recordings have, nevertheless, made representations to us for an increased term of protection and, in considering whether or not to support this, we will be assessing the impact on all stakeholders.

Credit Card Debt

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to tackle the growth in consumer credit card debt.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The UK credit market remains one of the most competitive in the world. Although figures show that borrowing is increasing in real terms, DTI commissioned research indicates that the vast majority of consumers manage their credit successfully, using it as an enabler, and do not become over-indebted.
	The Government is not, however, complacent and a number of departments are working together to ensure that those needing help have access to it. Further details can be found in the Tackling Over-indebtedness: Action Plan 2004" published July 2004 which is in the Libraries of the House and in the forthcoming 2005 update to be published shortly.

Environmental Guidance (Companies)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidance he has given to UK companies on their responsibilities (a) to report on and (b) to mitigate their impact on (i) communities and (ii)the environment.

Malcolm Wicks: DTI has introduced an Operating and Financial Review which, with effect from financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2005, will require directors of quoted companies to report on the development and performance of their business during the year, and on the key factors likely to affect development and performance in future. In preparing their OFR, directors will need to consider factors such as environment and community issues, insofar as these are relevant for an understanding of the business. The Accounting Standards Board has issued a reporting standard and implementation guidance to help companies prepare their OFR.
	We also encourage companies to address the social and environmental impacts of their activities over and above compliance with minimum legal standards. The Government website on CSR—www.csr.gov.uk—outlines our approach to promoting responsible business practice.

EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the European Commission regarding EU-ACP economic partnership agreements since March.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I discussed economic partnership agreement negotiations with Peter Mandelson, the EU Trade Commissioner. My officials have discussed the negotiations bilaterally with the Commission and in council working groups.

EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Commission regarding reform of Article 24 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in relation to trade agreements, with particular reference to the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements.

Ian Pearson: Officials have discussed suggestions for reforming Article 24 of the GATT with the European Commission. Following consultation with member states, the EU recently tabled a draft submission in the WTO on reform of the article, including proposals for special and differential treatment for developing countries such as the ACP.

EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the European Commission on the letter from Mr. Peter Carl, of the European Commission, to Heads of Delegations of African, Caribbean and Pacific countries of 11 April 2005, on the UK Government's position on EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements.

Ian Pearson: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with the European Commission on a broad range of issues associated with the Economic Partnership Agreements being negotiated with the ACP countries, including the issues raised in the UK position paper.

European Gas and Electricity Markets

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the timetable is for the EU sectoral enquiry into European gas and electricity markets.

Malcolm Wicks: The European Commission launched the sectoral inquiry on 13 June 2005 and announced that it will publish an interim report by end 2005 and the main results in 2006.

European Gas and Electricity Markets

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he expects the UK to be included in the EU sectoral inquiry into gas and electricity markets.

Malcolm Wicks: The European Commission has announced that the sectoral inquiry will cover the whole of the EU. We therefore expect the UK to be included.

Eurotunnel

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with (a) Eurotunnel (i) staff and (ii) creditors and (b) other Government Departments on Eurotunnel in the last 12months; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: None. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport leads on policy pertaining to Eurotunnel.

Flexible Working

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to promote working with flexibility for those with caring and family responsibilities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In February this year the DTI launched a consultation to take forward the work and family commitments that were announced in last December's pre-Budget report and the 10-year child care strategy. In the consultation we asked for views on the case for extending the right to request flexible working to carers of sick and disabled adults and to parents of older children. The consultation closed on 25 May 2005 and we are analysing the responses. These will be published, alongside the Government response, on our website at www.dti.gov.uk/workandfamilies.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Alan Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Interest Charges

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce measures to limit interest rates charged to the poorest borrowers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following research commissioned by the DTI, a decision has been taken not to introduce an interest rate ceiling in the UK.
	However, we have committed to keeping this issue under review.

Maguire v. Harland and Wolff

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the recent appeal court ruling in the case of Maguire v. Harland and Wolff that no compensation is owed to a former shipyard worker whose wife died of cancer contracted by secondary exposure to asbestos dust; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	In reaching its decision in this case, the Court of Appeal applied the principles of the current law of negligence to the particular circumstances of the case. The Government have no plans to change the law in this area.

Minimum Wage

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce tougher penalties to deter companies from paying their employees below the minimum wage.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In their 2005 report the Low Pay Commission confirmed that the vast majority of employers support and comply with the minimum wage. However, we recognise that a small minority of employers are not paying their workers the minimum wage. We are presently considering a number of options for improving enforcement and we intend to make a statement on this shortly.

National Grid Charges (Highlands and Islands)

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will use his powers to cap charges for access to the national grid for generators in the Highlands and Islands.

Malcolm Wicks: On 8 March 2005, my predecessor the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) announced that we would exercise the power conferred in Section 185 of the Energy Act 2004 to adjust electricity transmission charges for renewable generators on the Scottish Islands of Orkney, the Shetlands and the Western Isles. He also announced that we would consult on whether charges should be adjusted on the mainland of northern Scotland. We will launch a public consultation on this issue later in the summer.

Newspaper and Magazine Supply

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment his Department has made of the Office of Fair Trading's provisional view on exclusive wholesale territories for supplies of newspapers and magazines; and what steps the Department is taking to ensure that supplies to small retailers are protected.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following a request from certain newspaper and magazine publishers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has considered whether arrangements for distribution of newspapers and magazines are likely to be compatible with competition law after 1st May 2005. In the course of considering this matter, I know OFT received representations from all parts of the newspaper and magazine supply chain, including particular concerns about the distribution of magazines.
	OFT announced a provisional opinion on 23rd February and, on 19th May, published details in a draft advisory opinion. OFT has invited written comments on its draft advisory opinion to be received by 17th June. I understand a number of submissions have been made and from letters I have received on the subject I expect these to have included concerns about what the OFT opinion might mean for the future of distribution arrangements for both magazines and newspapers and how this might affect different parts of the newspaper and magazine supply chain. OFT will want to consider these new submissions carefully before reaching final conclusions.
	OFT is the independent competition regulator and the relevant competent authority to consider the substantive issues involved. Ministers are not in a position to second-guess OFT's substantive conclusions or interpretation of the law. There are no recommendations for Ministers to implement. It is for the companies concerned to make decisions about what distribution arrangements they put in place for their products while ensuring those arrangements comply with the law.

Newspaper and Magazine Supply

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  whether he plans to implement the Office of Fair Trading's recommendation to end wholesaler territories for newspaper and magazine distribution; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the number of smaller news and magazine retailers that would close if the current system of exclusive wholesaler territories is ended; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Following a request from certain newspaper and magazine publishers, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has considered whether arrangements for distribution of newspapers and magazines are likely to be compatible with competition law after 1 May 2005. In the course of considering this matter, I know OFT received representations from all parts of the newspaper and magazine supply chain, including particular concerns about the distribution of magazines.
	OFT announced a provisional opinion on 23 February and, on 19 May, published details in a draft advisory opinion. OFT has invited written comments on its draft advisory opinion to be received by 17 June. I understand a number of submissions have been made and from letters I have received on the subject I expect these to have included concerns about what the OFT opinion might mean for the future of distribution arrangements for both magazines and newspapers and how this might affect different parts of the newspaper and magazine supply chain. OFT will want to consider these new submissions carefully before reaching final conclusions.
	OFT is the independent competition regulator and the relevant competent authority to consider the substantive issues involved. Ministers are not in a position to second-guess OFT's substantive conclusions or interpretation of the law. There are no recommendations for Ministers to implement. It is for the companies concerned to make decisions about what distribution arrangements they put in place for their products while ensuring those arrangements comply with the law.

Nuclear Leak (Thorp)

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to produce its report on the leak at the THORP Plant; and whether he intends to publish the findings.

Malcolm Wicks: I am informed by the Health and Safety Executive that completion of its Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's investigation into the leak at THORP is likely to take some weeks and that its findings will be published in due course.

Office Space (Easington)

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what square footage of office space is vacant at (a) the Spectrum Enterprise Zone site at Dawdon and (b) the Whitehouse Business Park at Shotton; what steps are being taken to market these sites; and what progress has been made so far.

Alun Michael: I understand that currently Whitehouse Business Park has 381,000 sq. ft. of vacant space, and that Spectrum (Dawdon Enterprise Zone) has 246,700 sq. ft. The space let so far at Whitehouse is 234,000 sq. ft., and at Dawdon 60,000 sq. ft.
	Both sites are owned by the Regional Development Agency, ONE NorthEast, which is working closely with County Durham Development Company and East Durham Business Service to maintain the profile of the East Durham Enterprise Zones. There are three developers with interest in securing occupiers for the two sites. All three developers have retained regional property agents to market the site regionally, nationally and internationally.

Post Offices

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on the protection and continuation of rural post offices in Midlothian.

Barry Gardiner: Ministers and officials regularly meet Post Office Ltd to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the network.
	The Government have placed on Post Office Ltd a formal obligation to maintain the rural post office network and to prevent avoidable closures of rural post offices. The direction remains in force at least until April 2006. Post Office Ltd is currently piloting modern and innovative ways of delivering postal services in rural areas and the feedback from those pilots will allow Government to make better informed decisions on the longer-term future of the rural network.
	The Government initially made available 450million (150 million a year) for the three years 200304 to 200506 to help the Post Office to maintain the parts or the rural post office network that could not be sustained on a commercial basis. Subject to state aid clearance the Government have made available a further 300 million to extend its financial support for the rural network until April 2008.

Post Offices

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many post offices were in operation in (a) Wales and (b) Ceredigion in each of the last 10 years.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department is about to undertake an independent review of its Race Relations scheme to improve compliance and raise awareness within DTI, and this will extend to those bodies and organisations that fall within its remit.

Raw Tobacco Market

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Court of Auditors audit on the raw tobacco market, C41 OJ 17 Feb 05.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK has long fought for the withdrawal of subsidy for the growing of tobacco and the lack of controls highlighted by the report of the Court of Auditors serves to reinforce this view. We are concerned at the failures by member states to apply the required controls and unsatisfactory monitoring by the Commission. While the reform of the tobacco regime agreed at the Luxembourg Council in April 2004 will result in full decoupling of the tobacco subsidy by 2010 we expect every effort to be made to ensure that the controls required by existing legislation are followed and, if necessary, corrective action taken. We will continue to take every opportunity to press the Commission for updates on the progress it is making to ensure member states are applying the required controls and on how it is addressing the issue of financial corrections.

Renewable Energy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures are being taken to encourage the use of renewable energy in Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government's primary support mechanism for renewable energy in the UK is the Renewables Obligation (RO). The RO requires electricity suppliers to obtain an annually increasing percentage of their electricity from renewable source. This is supported by over 500 million in spending on developing emerging renewables and low carbon technologies up to 2008.
	Renew Tees Valley is responsible for planning and delivery of renewable energy projects in the Tees Valley including Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland and is tasked with creating jobs and encouraging inward investment using the medium of renewables and recycling.
	Renew Tees Valley is part of the wider NE regional activity working in partnership with Government Office for the North East, ONE, and the North East Assembly under the auspices of the North East Energy Partnership (NEEP), which takes the lead role in the North East for promoting renewables and for encouraging energy efficiency activities.

PRIME MINISTER

Bermuda

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Bermuda.

Tony Blair: I have no current plans to do so.

Honours

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's response in Reform of the Honours System (Cm 6479) to Recommendation 10 of the Report by the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee (HC 2121).

Tony Blair: The Government's response to Recommendation 10 of the Report was put into effect in time for the recent Birthday Honours List.

Honours

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister how many of the Chairs of Specialist Committees he approved on 14 June as members of the Independent Honours Committee are (a) black and (b) Asian.

Tony Blair: None. The process of selecting members of the Committees from those who applied is now under way. In making these appointments, the Cabinet Secretary will be taking into account the objective of creating a diverse membership.

Honours

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on scrutiny of propriety of awards of political honours in cases where a recipient has made a donation to a political party.

Tony Blair: The fact of having made a political donation should not in itself exclude the award of an honour where the candidate's service or achievements justify one. The House of Lords Appointments Commission is given information, where relevant, about political donations made by candidates whom it considers. As for candidates assessed by the normal process, those for the most senior awards who have made recent political donations are drawn to the attention of the main honours assessment committee.

Honours

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the minuted opinion of the Main Committee on honours that the Science and Technology Committee was unlikely to recommend Professor Colin Blakemore for an honour for his scientific work in view of his work on vivisection.

Tony Blair: It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on allegedly leaked documents.

House of Lords

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  whether it will be the responsibility of the House of Lords Appointments Commission to vet all nominations for honours, including those nominated by (a) the Prime Minister and (b) political parties, to ensure the highest standards of propriety;
	(2)  who, following the abolition of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee, in the case of candidates put forward personally by the Prime Minister for honours, will review independently the tax status, business connections and other personal interests of those candidates, their families and friends in order to ensure the highest standard of propriety; and from what date their vetting work will begin.

Tony Blair: The House of Lords Appointments Commission have agreed to my request that the Prime Minister of the day should refer to them any candidates for honours for political and public services put forward by leaders of political parties, and the names of Members of Parliament who are candidates for honours for services to Parliament. They have agreed to perform a similar service in respect of any candidates whose names are proposed by the Prime Minister of the day for an Honours List at a late stage, and who have not therefore been subject to the normal assessment and selection process.

House of Lords

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister what powers the House of Lords Appointments Commission has to vet appointments by the Prime Minister other than peerages.

Tony Blair: None, other than those nominations for honours as described in the answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman today (5624 and 5626).

House of Lords

Chris Grayling: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that the role of the House of Lords Appointments Commission is extended to consider whether the appointments of Ministers in the House of Lords by him conform to the highest standards of propriety.

Tony Blair: No.

Nuisance Automated Phone Calls

John Hemming: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 259, what steps the Government are taking to prevent nuisance automated phone calls.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the letter I sent him today. Copies of the letter have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Prime Minister (Appointment)

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 16 June ref 3343, what time scale he would expect to be followed for the appointment of the Prime Minister.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 577W.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Micro-bikes

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to (a)the police and (b) local authorities to deal with the illegal riding of micro-bikes.

Andy Burnham: The police have a power under the Police Reform Act to seize any mechanically propelled vehicle which is being driven both in a careless and inconsiderate manner on-road, or off-road without lawful authority, and causing or likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. If a micro-bike is ridden on the pavement, the police can deal with this as an offence under the Highways Act 1835. Where the rider is a child the police may choose instead to warn him and advise his parents as necessary.
	Local authorities can make byelaws prohibiting the use of micro-bikes in particular areas and also have the power to seize vehicles causing a noise nuisance.

Antisocial Behaviour

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the length of time it takes to resolve cases of serious antisocial behaviour.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government are committed to ensuring local agencies have the powers they need to reduce the impact of antisocial behaviour. Breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) is a criminal offence and criminal penalties apply.
	The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 and the TOGETHER campaign provide practitioners with tools and know-how to ensure that antisocial behaviour is dealt with swiftly and effectively.

Antisocial Behaviour

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in each year since their introduction, broken down by (a) the reason for the breach and (b) the punishment given for the breach.

Charles Clarke: During the period 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2003 a total of 1,892 antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were issued within England and Wales. Of those issued 793 individuals breached their ASBO over this period.
	The table counts all breach occasions during this period. The total given for this is 2,053 and represents breaches by those 793 individuals, indicating that those individuals breached more than once.
	
		Number(2)of occasions an ASBO was breached by year(3)and type of sentence
		
			  Type of sentence 
			 Year of breach Discharge Fine Community sentence Custody(4) Other Total 
		
		
			 2000(3) 0 7 2 8 2 19 
			 2001 7 39 56 100 32 234 
			 2002 26 52 144 230 60 512 
			 2003 60 135 356 626 111 1,288 
			 Total 93 233 558 964 205 2,053 
		
	
	(2)Includes multiple breaches of the same ASBO and covers those ASBOs reported to the Home Office.
	(3)From 1 June 2000. Data for 2004 are not yet available.
	(4)This excludes 10 cases where a fully suspended sentence was given and 29 cases where a sentence of one day in police cells was given. These cases are included in the Other column.

Shatterproof Glasses/Bottles

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the drinks industry regarding the adoption of shatterproof glasses and bottles in bars, pubs and clubs.

Charles Clarke: We remain concerned about the use of glasses and bottles as weapons in and around licensed premises.
	The Violent Crime Reduction Bill provides a new fast track alcohol licence review process which will allow Licensing Authorities to require pubs and clubs, where necessary, to use toughened drinks glasses and bottles. We will continue to discuss this measure with the drinks industry and other stakeholders.

Kirkham Prison

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Prison Service's response to the Chief Inspector of Prisons' report on Kirkham Prison.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Prison Service will produce an action plan which sets out what action will be taken on each one of the Chief Inspector's recommendations. I expect the action plan to be ready in August, as set out in the protocol agreed with the Chief Inspector.

Police

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on police numbers in Barnet.

Hazel Blears: Decisions on the allocation of resources to the London Borough Operational Command Units (OCU) is a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. I understand from the Commissioner that the Barnet OCU had 554 police officers on 31 March 2005. This is 69, or 14 per cent. more than in March 2001. Barnet additionally had 44 community support officers at the end of March this year.

Police

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish fast track access to medical services for police personnel to reduce sickness absence in police forces.

Hazel Blears: The Strategy for a Healthy Police Service, made 19 million available to forces in England and Wales for occupational health service from 2002 to 2006. It is for forces to determine how best to develop their occupational health services to support operational policing. In doing this forces can take account of the evaluation of projects funded by the Strategy. Some forces have used this funding to operate fast track access schemes.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to require police forces to adopt as standard the police staff council handbook;
	(2)  how many police forces have fully adopted the pay and conditions set out in the police staff council handbook;
	(3)  what representations he has received from the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding mandatory adoption of the police staff council handbook.

Charles Clarke: In the White Paper: Building Communities, Beating Crime, we commit to developing terms and conditions for police staff that meet the operational requirements of the service and support the delivery of improved performance. We wish to develop terms and conditions of service for police staff which reflect their increasingly important place in policing and the operational nature of many of their roles. We will discuss these proposals in the PSC. However, we want to allow police forces and authorities flexibility where that is necessary to meet local requirements. We do not propose therefore to make the contents of the PSC handbook mandatory.
	Adoption of the terms and conditions of the Police Staff Council (PSC) of England and Wales Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook is by voluntary agreement by individual forces. Forces can take account of the handbook in deciding on the terms and conditions for their staff in the light of force requirements and circumstances. Neither the Home Office nor the Employers Organisation collect information about which of the provisions of the Handbook individual forces have chosen to incorporate in local terms and conditions of service.
	Neither myself or other Ministers have received any representation from the Association of Chief Police Officers in regards to the mandatory adoption of the Police Staff Council handbook.

Anti-terrorism (Detainees)

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained under anti-terrorism legislation in each year since 1975; how many were (a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens; how many of those detained were subsequently charged with (i) terrorist and (ii) other criminal offences; and how many were deported.

Charles Clarke: Under current terrorism legislation apart from very specific powers only available at ports or to facilitate stop and search, there are no powers of detention without arrest.
	Statistics on arrests under Prevention of Terrorism Legislation from 1979 to 2001 are available on the Research and Statistics section of the Home Office website.
	Statistics on arrests, since 11 September 2001, under the Terrorism Act 2000 are also available. These can be found in the terrorism section of the Home Office website.

CCTV

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent on CCTV security cameras in (a) Haltemprice and Howden and (b) the East Riding of Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Charles Clarke: Since 1999, the Home Office has allocated 381,558 to the East Riding of Yorkshire (which includes the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden) to ensure CCTV coverage across the area as part of the closed circuit television initiative, which was an element of the crime reduction programme. The breakdown of this funding is as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 19992000 44,686 
			 200102 155,325 
			 200203 181,547 
		
	
	Since the completion of the crime reduction programme, crime reduction funding has been allocated directly to the local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership through the Building Safer Communities fund and to Basic Command Unit (BCD) commanders through the BCD fund. These funding streams finance a variety of interventions, including CCTV, to tackle local crime priorities.
	Allocation of this funding locally is a matter for the East Riding of Yorkshire council and Humberside constabulary. The information is not held centrally.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to (a) Martin Rathfelder, dated 31 March, (b) Mr. N. Hussain, dated 23 March and (c) Timothy Feist, dated 22 March;
	(2)  when he will answer the letter dated 23 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. N. Hussain.

Charles Clarke: The information is as follows:
	(a) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 24 May 2005.
	(b) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 1 April 2005.
	(c) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 12 April 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to (a) Mr. A. Bokes, dated 8 March, (b) Scholastic Dube, dated 23 March, (c) Mr. M. M. Berrish, dated 23 March and (d) Mr. R. M. Farooqi, dated 3 March.

Charles Clarke: The information is as follows:
	(a) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 18 May 2005.
	(b) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 18 May 2005.
	(c) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 24 May 2005.
	(d) I replied to my right hon. Friend on 18 May 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter to him dated 22 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Timothy Feist.

Charles Clarke: I replied to my right hon. Friend on 12 April 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter to him dated 4 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Hassan Nadir Rashid.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 May 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter to him dated 7 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Jamal Mohammed Bin Omar Al Ridal.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 March 2005.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer the letter to him dated 11 May from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Mukhdoom Ali.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 24 June.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter dated 23 March from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. N. Hussain.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 1 April.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to answer the letter dated 9 May, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Zahoor Ahmed.

Charles Clarke: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 23 June 2005.

Defendants (Greater London)

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) the immigration status and (b) the nationality of convicted defendants in magistrates courts in the Greater London area is recorded.

Harriet Harman: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on (a) the immigration status and (b) the nationality of convicted defendants in magistrates courts in the Greater London area is not currently recorded.

Identity Cards

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the merits of including radio frequency identification chips in (a) passports and (b) identity cards.

Tony McNulty: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) initiated feasibility studies evaluating the acceptability and implementation options for biometrics and the storage of electronic data on passports including the use of radio frequency identification chips (RFID). These are available on the ICAO website.
	The United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) has played a significant role in the development of the options and subsequent standards. The UKPS has adopted these standards within the technical design of the biometric passport.
	No final decisions have been taken yet on the chip technology for ID cards.

Immigration Service Work

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete discussions with HM Revenue and Customs on the future arrangements for immigration service work in Berwick-upon-Tweed previously carried out on an agency basis by HM Customs and Excise officer based in the town; and what interim arrangements have been made to cover this work.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 June 2005
	The Immigration Service have recently been informed that HM Revenue and Customs propose to close the Customs House at Berwick-upon-Tweed. The immigration office at North Shields will continue to provide immigration coverage.

Kamel Bourgass

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which day staff from Porton Down alerted (a) the police and (b) Ministers about the error that had been made in statements issued that ricin had been found in the flat occupied by Kamel Bourgass; and what action was taken by (i) the police and (ii)Ministers when it was found that an error had been made.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 6 June 2005
	An initial test conducted by Dstl Porton Down on 6 January 2003 on an exhibit taken by police from the flat occupied by Kamal Bourgass gave an apparent positive result for ricin. However, confirmatory tests which were conducted throughout the period from 7 January 2003 to 28 January 2003 failed to detect the presence of ricin.
	Ricin was identified and confirmed on 7 January, 2003 in a second exhibit, consisting of 22 castor beans seized from the flat. Nicotine poison was also identified and confirmed. Other materials, specifically mentioned in the poison recipes recovered from the flat were also found including acetone and isopropyl alcohol.
	The Prosecuting Counsel (Mr. Sweeney QC), Crown Prosecution Service, was verbally informed of the ricin test result at a case conference on 20 March, 2003 by Dstl. The Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch was also represented at the meeting where the information was provided. The result was also provided in a written statement which was made available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the metropolitan police at that time.
	Further tests on the first exhibit on 27/28 April, 2003 also did not detect ricin.
	We do not have a record of the date this information was passed from the police to the Home Office and subsequently to Ministers.

Kamel Bourgass

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date (a) the police first reported the discovery of traces of ricin in the London flat used by Kamel Bourgass and his associates and (b) Porton Down chemical and biological weapons research centre first indicated that there was no ricin in the flat; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Clarke: An initial test conducted by Dstl Porton Down on 6 January 2003 on an exhibit taken by police from the flat occupied by Kamal Bourgass gave an apparent positive result for ricin. However, confirmatory tests which were conducted throughout the period from 7 January 2003 to 28 January 2003 failed to detect the presence of ricin.
	Ricin was identified and confirmed by Dstl on 7 January, 2003 in a second exhibit, consisting of 22 castor beans seized from the flat. Nicotine poison was also identified and confirmed. Other materials, specifically mentioned in the poison recipes recovered from the flat were also found including acetone and isopropyl alcohol.
	The Prosecuting Counsel (Mr. Sweeney QC), Crown Prosecution Service, was verbally informed of the ricin test result at a case conference on 20 March, 2003 by Dstl. The Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch was also represented at the meeting where the information was provided. The result was also provided in a written statement which was made available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police at that time.
	Further tests on the first exhibit on 2728 April, 2003 also did not detect rich.

Press Officers

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers his Department has employed in each year since 1997, broken down by pay grade.

Charles Clarke: Press officers within the Home Office are employed at the information officer (IO) and senior information officer (SIO) grades.
	A breakdown of staff by pay grade prior to 19992000 is unavailable as this information is not held on record. The information provided in the table covers full financial years from 19992000 to 200405.
	The Home Office Press Office and the Prison Service Press Office merged in May 2001.
	In 200304 the Press Office Newsdesk answered 60,039 calls; Press Office issued 583 press notices and held 29 briefings for the media.
	
		
			  Total IO SIO 
		
		
			 199798 13 n/a n/a 
			 199899 13 n/a n/a 
			 19992000 16 12 4 
			 200001 31 24 7 
			 200102 35 27 8 
			 200203 39 29 10 
			 200304 39 27 12 
			 200405 43 34 9

Project IRIS

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress in implementing Project IRIS.

Tony McNulty: The Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) operational pilot has been implemented at Heathrow Airport Terminals 2 and 4 and commenced passenger enrolments from 20 June 2005. After the pilot has been fully evaluated the system will roll-out to eight other airport terminals during 2005.

SitCen

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the role in the EU of SitCen.

Charles Clarke: The EU Joint Situation Centre (SitCen) monitors and assesses events and situations worldwide on a 24-hour basis with a focus on potential crisis regions, terrorism and WMD-proliferation. The SitCen also provides support to the EU High Representative, Special Representatives and other senior officials, as well as for EU crisis management operations.
	The SitCen is divided into three units: the Civilian intelligence Cell (CIC), comprising civilian intelligence analysts working on political and counter-terrorism assessment; the General Operations Unit (GOU), providing 24-hour operational support, research and non-intelligence analysis; and the Communications Unit, handling communications security issues and running the council's communications centre (ComCen).
	This creation of a CT analytical capacity within the CIC, which became active on 1 February 2005, has been the major aspect of SitCen's development since the attacks of 11 March in Madrid. As set out in The Hague multi-annual work programme, the intention is that SitCen furnishes the council with strategic intelligence-based assessments on counter-terrorism matters. An initial six month work programme has been set up to reflect the priorities of Heads of State as set out in the ED Action Plan on terrorism. This cross-pillar work programme incorporates justice and home affairs priorities, as well as those issues highlighted by external policy working groups. As such, it includes for example, assessments on threats to modes of transport; threats to critical national infrastructure targets in EU member states; and an assessment of trends in terrorist financing.
	SitCen's priorities had hitherto largely focused on Common Foreign and Security Policy issues and did not serve to provide the necessary JHA input. With the CT Cell's work programme now reflecting broader EU CTpriorities it is intended to add support to current policy areas. This is the principal area where the SitCen CT Cell can contribute to JHA work: strategic intelligence-based assessments on counter-terrorism matters in support of current policy discussions.

Terrorism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested and (b) successfully prosecuted for terrorist activities in London in each year since 1997; and to which organisations those successfully prosecuted belonged; and what their country of origin was.

Charles Clarke: Statistics on the operation of Prevention of Terrorism Legislation from 1997 to 2001 are available on the Research and Statistics section of the Home Office website.
	Statistics on arrests and prosecutions, since 11 September 2001, under the Terrorism Act 2000 are also available. These can be found in the terrorism section of the Home Office website.
	These statistics reflect the operation of specific terrorism legislation. It is important to remember that it is, and will continue to be the case, that terrorist suspects are dealt with by the most appropriate legal means. This could be the legislation for murder, grievous bodily harm or the use of firearms or explosives which are all outside the scope of the Terrorism Act.

Terrorism

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates in the last 12 months he has held meetings with the Mayor of London to discuss contingency measures in the event of a terrorist attack on London.

Charles Clarke: The development of contingency plans for London are managed through London Resilience based in the Government office for London. The London Resilience Forum, which meets quarterly, oversees this work and is chaired by my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for London Resilience, with the Mayor of London as the deputy chair. The Minister for London Resilience in turn sits on the Cabinet Committee overseeing resilience work nationally. This is chaired by the Home Secretary.
	Outside this structure Home Office officials work closely with the London Resilience forum and a range of other Departments and agencies to develop the contingency plans for London.

Visas

Ian Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that visa inquiries from High Commission and Embassy entry clearance officers to the Evidence and Enquiries Unit of the Home Office are processed within 14 days.

Tony McNulty: The service level agreement between UKvisas and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (Evidence and Enquiry Unit) sets a process time of 25 days from receipt of inquiries from posts abroad, to the despatch of responses. That performance target time is currently being met in 96 per cent. of cases.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefits (Childless Couples)

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what benefits may be paid to couples without children.

James Plaskitt: The Department do not provide any benefits expressly aimed at couples without children. A couple without children, who meet the qualifying conditions, would be entitled to the full range of social security benefits, either as a couple or as individuals.

British United Shoe Machinery

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will instigate an inquiry into the collapse of the British United Shoe Machinery Limited's pension scheme.

Stephen Timms: No.
	The Pensions Ombudsman is an independent statutory commissioner and can investigate complaints of injustice resulting from maladministration and disputes of fact or law by the trustees or managers of a scheme, or by an employer on a pensions matter.
	The body responsible for the regulation of work-based pension schemes is the Pensions Regulator which replaced the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) from 6 April 2005. The law requires that those involved in running occupational and personal pension schemes, including stakeholder schemes, should consider reporting to the regulator breaches of any legislation or rule of law concerning the administration of the scheme.

Council Tax Benefit

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the amount of council tax benefit that was unclaimed by pensioners in the latest year for which figures are available.

James Plaskitt: The latest available information is in Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take Up in 2002/2003, a copy of which is in the Library.

Council Tax Payments

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects pensioner households will receive the 200 payment towards council tax bills.

James Plaskitt: It is intended that pensioner households will receive the 200 payment with their winter fuel payment at the end of the year.

Disability Living Allowance

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for disability living allowance were (a) made and (b) rejected in each year since 2001, broken down by nation and region.

Anne McGuire: The requested information is not available by nation and region. The information that is available is in the table.
	
		Disability living allowance claims received and refused inGreat Britain from 200105
		
			  Number of claims: 
			  Received Refused 
		
		
			 2001 411,990 196,885 
			 2002 427,965 194,605 
			 2003 438,710 215,135 
			 2004 439,095 234,180 
			 2005(5) 176,460 91,365 
		
	
	(5)Figures are for calendar years (January to December) except 2005 which covers January 2005 to May 2005.
	Notes:
	1.Data are taken from the Management Information System (MIS) computer system.
	2.Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 per cent. data

Financial Assistance Scheme

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost of including members of the APW (Eastleigh) pension scheme in the Financial Assistance Scheme;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost of including in the Financial Assistance Scheme all schemes which were wound up between May 2004 and April 2005 whose parent companies are still solvent;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the number of members of pension schemes which were wound up between May 2004 and April 2005 and whose parent companies are still solvent;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the number of members of pension schemes which were wound up between May 2004 and April 2005.

Stephen Timms: Noneinformation is not available on which to base such estimates reliably.
	The data collection exercise undertaken to facilitate the development of the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), which ended in December 2004, identified 26 schemes (with some 7,000 members) which started to wind up between 14 May 2004 and 1 December 2004. Of those schemes, six (with some 1,400 members) appear to be sponsored by employers that had not undergone an insolvency event at that time. However, given the information provided before and during the exercise on the likely scope of the FAS, it is probable that some schemes connected to solvent employers did not provide returns.

Home Responsibilities Protection

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has for the reform of home responsibilities protection.

Stephen Timms: Home Responsibilities Protection which was introduced in 1978 ensures that carers, particularly women caring for children, can build up entitlement to a full basic state pension. The Government launched its national debate on 24 February with the publication of Principles for Reform: The national pensions debate. This set out our guiding principles on which further work would be taken forward. Producing fair outcomes for women and carers is one of these principles.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of housing benefit paid to (a) pensioners, (b) disabled people, (c) lone parents, (d) unemployed people and (e) others, in each of the last eight years, in (i) cash and (ii) real terms.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the tables.
	
		Annual housing benefit expenditure by client groupnominal and real terms --  million, nominal
		
			  199798 outturn 199899 outturn 19992000 outturn 200001 outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments. 11,176 11,065 11,066 11,166 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 3,781 3,843 3,931 4,110 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 1,782 1,966 2,132 2,286 
			 Lone parents 2,614 2,654 2,731 2,648 
			 Short-term sick 406 335 330 342 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 875 851 688 652 
			 Unemployed 1,719 1,417 1,255 1,129 
		
	
	
		 million, nominal
		
			  200102 outturn 200203 outturn 200304 outturn 200405 estimated outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 11,590 12,638 12,365 13,052 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,380 4,730 4,457 4,868 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,493 2,945 2,949 3,152 
			 Lone parents 2,666 2,855 2,932 3,048 
			 Short-term sick 338 365 350 329 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 674 668 690 723 
			 Unemployed 1,039 1,075 979 932 
		
	
	
		 million, 200506 prices
		
			  199798 outturn 199899 outturn 19992000 outturn 200001 outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 13,547 13,037 12,760 12,727 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,583 4,528 4,532 4,685 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,160 2,316 2,458 2,605 
			 Lone parents 3,168 3,127 3,149 3,018 
			 Short-term sick 492 395 380 390 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 1,061 1,003 793 743 
			 Unemployed 2,083 1,669 1,447 1,286 
		
	
	
		 million, 200506 prices
		
			  200102 outturn 200203 outturn 200304 outturn 200405 estimated outturn 
		
		
			 Housing benefit and discretionary housing payments 12,883 13,582 12,916 13,379 
			 of which: 
			 People aged 60 and over 4,868 5,084 4,659 4,990 
			 Long-term sick and disabled 2,771 3,165 3,082 3,231 
			 Lone parents 2,963 3,068 3,064 3,124 
			 Short-term sick 375 392 366 338 
			 Others excluding unemployed people 750 718 722 741 
			 Unemployed 1,155 1,155 1,023 955 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	2.Figures are on a Resource Accounting and Budgeting basis.
	3.Some figures for past years may have changed since previous publications owing to the incorporation of more up-to-date information.
	4.Expenditure for 200405 reflects the latest benefit-by-benefit estimate of outturn, and not the amounts voted by Parliament.
	5.Total amounts paid to beneficiaries, irrespective of the source of funding. Includes benefit spending reimbursed by DWP, spending on rent rebates financed within local authorities' Housing Revenue Accounts, and benefit spending financed from local authorities' general funds.
	6.From 200405 the figures shown take into account the transfer of responsibility of The Rent Service to DWP.
	7.Real terms have been calculated using gross domestic product deflators updated after the Budget Report of 16 March 2005.
	Source:
	DWP Income-related benefit expenditure tables; table 7.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of tenants receiving housing benefit in (a) the deregulated private sector, (b) the regulated private sector and (c) registered social landlord accommodation are (i) pensioners, (ii)disabled, (iii) lone parents, (iv) unemployed and (v)others.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table.
	
		Proportion of housing benefit recipients in each client group with deregulated, regulated and registered social landlord (RSL) tenancies, Great BritainMay 2003 -- Percentage
		
			   Aged under 60 
			  Aged 60 or over Disabled Lone parents Unemployed Others 
		
		
			 Deregulated 18.8 26.0 27.1 12.6 15.4 
			 Regulated 81.6 9.9 2.7 2.2 3.6 
			 RSL 42.1 23.1 21.6 5.2 8.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are based on a 1 per cent. sample and subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	2.The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.
	3.Percentages are rounded to one decimal place and may not sum due to rounding.
	4.Housing benefit figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	5.Aged 60 or over are cases where the claimant and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
	6.Disabled are cases where the claimant and partner are aged under 60 and in receipt of a disability premium.
	7.Lone parents are single claimants aged under 60, with a dependent, and not in receipt of a disability premium.
	8.Unemployed are cases where the claimant and partner are aged under 60, and one is in receipt of income based or contribution based jobseeker's allowance, not on a Government training scheme and not in receipt of a disability premium.
	9.Others are cases not falling into any of the categories shown.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2003.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints in respect of housing benefit were reported to the Local Government Ombudsman in each year since 1997, broken down by region.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on the number of complaints in respect of housing benefit received each year by each of the three Local Government Ombudsmen is given as follows:
	
		
			 Number of cases received each year Ombudsman in London (currently, broadly covering north London, Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire)(6) Ombudsman in Coventry (currently, broadly covering south London, most southern and central England, and the south west)(6) Ombudsman in York (currently, broadly covering the north of England, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire)(6) 
		
		
			 199798 725 206 216 
			 199899 913 171 281 
			 19992000 1,669 258 426 
			 200001 2,704 356 968 
			 200102 1,097 1,050 849 
			 200203 799 557 697 
			 200304 701 517 649 
			 200405 678 442 348 
		
	
	(6)From time-to-time, responsibility for cases in particular local authority areas are redistributed between Ombudsmen, so as to even out the Ombudsmen's workloads.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many local authorities have transferred administration of housing benefit to another provider due to persistent failure to meet required standards in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available.
	Local authorities can choose whether they administer housing benefit themselves or use other service providers for part or all of the process.
	The Secretary of State also has the power to require a local authority to use a different provider where it has failed to meet the requirements of statutory directions to improve its performance. It has not been considered necessary to use this power.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which software systems are used in the housing benefit pathfinders to administer housing benefit.

James Plaskitt: The software systems being used by the nine LHA Pathfinder authorities are provided by the following IT suppliers: Anite; Civica; Academy; and SX3.

Housing Benefit

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how often housing benefit claimants are required to renew their claims (a) in the pathfinder areas and (b) in other areas, broken down by region.

James Plaskitt: Since October 2003 in the case of pensioners, and since April 2004 in the case of other people, housing benefit claims no longer have to be renewed.

Housing Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the research on the single room rent restriction;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the research into the single room rent restriction.

James Plaskitt: This research, which was published on 9 June 2005 as part of the Department for Work and Pensions Research series (Report number 243), confirms that the proportion of young people facing a shortfall, between benefit and rent, is on a downward trend and those who occupy accommodation covered by the single room rent definition face similar levels of shortfall, on average, to other claimants subject to the Local Reference Rent.
	This research also identifies problems young people can face when trying to rent in the private rented sector and we will consider carefully whether there are further improvements we can make to the housing benefit scheme which will help alleviate these.
	The report is available in the Library.

Incapacity Benefit

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of incapacity benefit recipients live in each authority area listed in descending order; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The information has been placed in the Library.

Medical Examination Centres

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the medical examination centres in the UK which are (a) to be closed and (b) to remain open.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 20 June 2005
	As part of detailed discussion following the award of a new medical services contract the Department and Atos Origin are discussing a range of proposals including an estates strategy that would both improve service standards and secure investment in other areas. Further information will be made available once these discussions have been concluded.

National Insurance Contracted-out Rebate

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received the national insurance contracted-out rebate; and what the (a) total value of the rebate and (b) the average value per person of the rebate has been in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The information is in the table:
	
		Great Britain
		
			  Number of people  who received the contracted-out rebate (million) Total value  ( billion) Average value () 
		
		
			 200405 10.5 10.3 980 
			 200304 10.7 10.1 940 
			 200203 11.1 10.4 940 
			 200102 11.1 9.0 810 
			 200001 11.1 8.7 780 
		
	
	Notes:
	(a) Numbers of people contracted out are rounded to 100,000, Total Value amounts are rounded to 100 million and Average Value amounts are rounded to 10.
	(b) Estimates are for Great Britain only, not UK, and are consistent with Budget 2005 projections.
	(c) Estimates of the number of people contracted out are based on the average numbers contracted out in any week earning above the Lower Earnings Limit and not on the total numbers contracted out during the year.
	(d) The Total Value .of the rebate includes rebates to all Contracted-out Salary Relate Schemes, Contracted-out Money Purchase Schemes and Appropriate Personal Pension Schemes and Stakeholder Schemes. It also includes the cost of the employer's share of the rebate.
	(e) Figures up to and including 200102 are based on published data on the numbers of people contracted out. Figures for 200203 to 200405 are based on estimates of the number of people contracted out.
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department

Pension Commission

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the consultation on the findings of the Pension Commission will be completed.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Commission's consultation on issues raised in its first report Pensions; Challenges and Choices ended 31 January 2005. The Commission is expected to publish its Final Report before the end of 2005.
	We want to build a national consensus on a long-term solution to adequate income in retirement. We intend to ensure that the widest possible dialogue takes place prior to and beyond the publication of the Pensions Commission report as part of our National Pensions Debate.

Pensions

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the take-up of pension credit by pensioners whose first language is not English.

Stephen Timms: Reliable information on the ethnicity of those entitled to income related benefits is not currently available. The Department will continue to use the findings of research in order to identify the barriers to take-up among people from ethnic minorities, including those whose first language is not English, and ways to overcome them. The Department will also continue to seek to improve the quality of the data which it holds on the ethnicity of its customers and the way in which this information is collected. Information on pension credit, as with other benefits or entitlements, is available in a number of languages and applications can be taken by telephone in languages other than English.

Pensions

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Islington (a) received state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received pension credit in each of the last three years; and what the average pension credit payment was in each year.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of people in receipt of State Pension and Pension Credit in the local authority area of Islington, and average awards, is set out in the following two tables. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for Pension Credit is not available in respect of individual local authority areas or constituencies.
	
		Table 1: State pension claimants, Islington local authority area, September 2002 to September 2004
		
			  Claimants Average award () 
		
		
			 2002 19,400 79.03 
			 2003 18,500 81.03 
			 2004 19,300 82.96 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers of claimants are rounded to the nearest100.
	2.Numbers of claimants are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3.Local authorities are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Islington local authority area, December 2003 to March 2005
		
			  Households Individuals Average award () 
		
		
			 December 2003 7,830 9,100 64.92 
			 December 2004 8,985 10,460 62.50 
			 March 2005 9,145 10,640 62.17 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Number of households and individuals are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4.Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6.The figures for March 2005 are the latest available.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measures his Department is taking to ensure the equality of women's pensions compared to men's pensions.

Stephen Timms: The proportion of women retiring with a full basic state pension will rise substantially over the next 20 years. Measures such as Home Responsibilities Protection, improved participation in the labour market and tax credits have all contributed to this. In addition, with the introduction of state second pension, the proportion of women who are now accruing significant second state pension rights is similar to that of men. This represents a major improvement on the old system of SERPS.
	Of course we want to do more. That is why one of our principles for reform is that the pensions system should produce fair outcomes for women and carers. We have embarked on a National Pensions Debate to build consensus as to the best way to achieve this. As part of this debate we will be publishing an analysis of women's pension position.

Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Coventry, South (a) received state pension, (b) applied for pension credit and (c) received pension credit in each of the last three years; and what the average pension credit payment was in each year.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of people in receipt of state pension and pension credit in Coventry, South, and average awards, is set out in the following two tables. Information on the number of people who have applied for or are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies.
	
		Table 1: State pension recipients, Coventry, South,September 2002 to September 2004
		
			 Date Recipients Average award () 
		
		
			 September 2002 16,200 80.30 
			 September 2003 16,400 83.82 
			 September 2004 16,700 86.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers of recipients are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2.Numbers of recipients are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	3.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 5 per cent. sample
	
		Table 2: Pension credit recipients, Coventry, South,December 2003 to March 2005
		
			 Date Households Individuals Average award () 
		
		
			 December 2003 3,895 4,580 46.57 
			 December 2004 4,690 5,575 44.55 
			 March 2005 4,805 5,715 44.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Numbers of households and individuals are rounded to the nearest 5.
	2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4.Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee from 6 October 2003.
	5.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	6.The figures for March 2005 are the latest available.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pensions Regulator

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under what circumstances the Pensions Regulator may refuse to respond to correspondence from a member of the public.

Stephen Timms: There will be occasions when it is necessary to refuse to continue correspondence with an individual complainant or enquirer. This could be, for example, where the correspondence is seeking information which the Regulator considers to be exempt from disclosure under the Pensions Act 2004, the Data Protection or Freedom of Information Acts, the Environmental Information Regulations, or where in exceptional cases and after numerous responses the Regulator considers the nature of the correspondence vexatious.

State Pension

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what level of basic state pension a woman is entitled to if she has national insurance contributions or credits for up to 24 per cent. of the 39 years required for her to accumulate a full basic state pension.

Stephen Timms: She would not be entitled to any basic state pension based on her own contributions but could become entitled if she pays voluntary contributions for at least another year. A married woman can get a basic state pension of around 60 per cent. of their husband's entitlement when both have reached state pension age and make a claim, regardless of her contributions.
	We are seeking consensus on how best we could achieve a fair outcome in terms of state pension entitlement for women and carers which is one of the six key principles that will guide our work in meeting the pensions challenge.

State Pension

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the position is with regard to national insurance contributions towards a basic state pension of a person who earns less than the lower earnings limit in part-time work throughout her career while caring for children;
	(2)  what the position is with regard to national insurance contributions or credits towards a basic state pension of a person who cares for another for less than 35 hours a week and does a job earning less than the lower earnings limit.

Stephen Timms: We recognise that caring responsibility on its own would not entitle a person to a basic state pension. We have embarked on the national debate to achieve consensus on future pension policy. Producing fair outcomes for women and carers is one of the principles guiding reform.

Underfunded Pension Schemes

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions why an age limit of within three years of normal retirement age on 14 May 2004 was set for those eligible to claim payment from the Financial Assistance Scheme for under funded pension schemes; what provisions have been made for those who fall outside the age limit; what is being done to help small firms who have lost their pension funds; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Our priority is getting help to those facing the most urgent difficulties being closest to, or already at, retirement age and therefore less able to make provision to replace their lost pensions. As the funding available is limited we need to ensure that any assistance we provide will make a considerable impact. That is why the draft regulations on the Financial Assistance Scheme(FAS), which we issued for consultation on 4 April, provide help to those within three years of their scheme pension age, or above their scheme pension age, on 14 May 2004. Members of pension schemes set up by small firms will be eligible for such help provided the schemes and members also meet the other qualifying criteria. Following the end of the consultation period, draft regulations setting up FAS will be laid in Parliament shortly. We have made a commitment to review FAS, including its funding, in the next Spending Review.

Winter Heating Allowance

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of (a) the winter heating allowance and (b) means-tested benefits for pensioners over (i) 65, (ii) 67, (iii) 70 and (iv) 75 years, in (A) 200506, (B) 201011, (C) 202021, (D) 203031, (E) 204041 and (F) 205051 assuming the uprating of such allowances and benefits is continued on the same basis as that announced for the current year and the basic state pension is uprated on the same basis as announced for 200506.

Stephen Timms: The expenditure figures are given in the following table.
	
		
			  200506 201011 202021 203031 204041 205051 
		
		
			 Age 65 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,600 950 900 800 700 550 
			 Pension Credit 5,400 7,950 12,500 19,650 28,850 39,000 
			 Housing Benefits 6,100 6,800 8,850 11,500 14,350 16,700 
			
			 Age 67 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,450 850 800 750 650 500 
			 Pension Credit 4,950 7,300 11,600 18,250 27,250 36,800 
			 Housing Benefits 5,550 6,150 8,100 10,500 13,400 15,450 
			
			 Age 70 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 1,250 700 700 600 550 450 
			 Pension Credit 4,300 6,500 10,300 16,350 24,700 33,800 
			 Housing Benefits 4,800 5,350 7,000 9,100 11,750 13,800 
			 Age 75 and over   
			 Winter Fuel Payments 900 500 450 450 400 350 
			 Pension Credit 3,350 5,050 7,900 13,150 20,050 28,550 
			 Housing Benefits 3,500 4,250 5,100 6,850 8,900 11,000 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.All expenditure is in current (200506) prices and represents UK expenditure. Expenditure expressed in  million, rounded to the nearest 50 million.
	2.The expenditure given for winter fuel payment does not include one-off age-related payments.
	3.In 200506 the winter fuel payment per household where householder(s) are up to age 79 is 200. For those 80 years and over this is 300. These allowances are reduced to 150 for all households after 200506.
	4.After 200506 the winter fuel payment is a fixed annual payment of 150 in cash terms. As a resultdespite increases in the 65+ population between 200506 and 205051there is a downwards trend in expenditure when quoted in current prices.
	5.Housing benefits include both housing benefit and council tax.
	6.All uprating assumptions used are consistent with Budget 2005 published forecasts.
	Source:
	DWP forecasting models, consistent with Budget 2005.

TRANSPORT

Air Services (Meals)

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the British Nutritional Foundation on the salt content of in-flight meals.

Karen Buck: The Department has received no representation from the British Nutritional Foundation on the salt content of in-flight meals.

Air Services (Meals)

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the Aviation Health Unit on the salt content of in-flight meals.

Karen Buck: The Department has made no representation to the Aviation Health Unit on the salt content of in-flight meals.

Air Travellers (Financial Protection)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what options for financial protection of travellers have been the subject of discussion between his Department and the Civil Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the proposed timetable for consultation on the preferred option.

Karen Buck: The options for the financial protection of air travellers discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority include extension of the scope of financial protection to cover all UK-originating international flights, reducing the scope of protection to the minimum permitted under European legislation and maintaining the status quo. The Government have already received many representations, and the principal stakeholders were involved in the analytical work over the past few months.

Bus Services

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make provision for sector tendering for bus services outside London.

Karen Buck: If by sector tendering the hon. Member means the tendering of bus services by a local transport authority over a substantial area, giving the successful tenderer exclusive right to operate in that area, it is possible to do this through a quality contracts scheme under the Transport Act 2000. Such a scheme must be approved by the Secretary of State (or in Wales, the National Assembly for Wales), who must be satisfied that it is the only practicable way of implementing the authority's bus policies and will do so in a way that is economic, efficient and effective.
	The Future of Transport White Paper (Cm 6234, July 2004) encouraged the development of combined packages of bus enhancement measures, probably through quality contracts, and measures to reduce traffic congestion.
	The Department has issued guidance to English local authorities on applications for approval of quality contracts schemes.

Congestion

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what method his Department uses for calculating congestion;
	(2)  what definition of congestion his Department uses.

Stephen Ladyman: The measure that has been used in the past is derived from comparing actual traffic speeds with those that would be achievable in the absence of congestion. Full details of the methodology are available on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_transstats/documents/page/dft_transstats_021863.pdf.
	However, the Department has always acknowledged the limitations of measuring congestion in this way and is currently developing new, more detailed data sources and new measures of traffic congestion.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the Eurostar Depot at North Pole could accommodate the Crossrail fleet.

Derek Twigg: On 26 May 2005, Cross London Rail Link's released a report on Depot Location Options. The reports details the selection and assessment of all the sites considered which includes the North Pole depot.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the Westlands Playing Field and adjacent land is returned to its original use when it is no longer required for the Crossrail worksite.

Derek Twigg: Measures to mitigate the impacts of Crossrail on the Westlands Playing Field are currently under discussion with the London borough of Havering. The intention is however to return the site to its original use.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects the Crossrail maintenance depot in Romford to operate 24 hours a day.

Derek Twigg: The Romford Depot is expected to operate on a 24 hours a day basis.

Departmental Finance and Payroll Contract

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he expects that the planned Enterprise Option centralising the Department's finance and payroll functions will use the Partners Achieving Change Together contract; and whether it is compliant with EU public sector procurement rules.

Karen Buck: The Department intends to use the PACT contract to obtain professional advice on the implementation of its shared services project, which will cover finance, payroll and HR activities. The terms of the PACT contract are such that its use on this project is compliant with EU public sector procurement rules.

Departmental Relocation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of his Department's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East.

Karen Buck: The Department and its Agencies are implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate 66 posts out of London and the South East by 2010.
	So far, the department has relocated 12 posts from London to Hastings, a relatively deprived area in the South East. A further 13 posts will also relocate there. Timing is dependent on other efficiency programme decisions.

Driving Tests

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average waiting time for tests was at each Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency driving test centre in the last year for which figures are available, ranked in order.

Alistair Darling: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is responsible for delivering the driving test. The Agency publishes each week on its website data on the availability of practical tests for learner drivers at each of the permanent test centres which indicates average waiting times.

House Building (Traffic)

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how plans to reduce the level of motorway noise will be adjusted to take account of changes in traffic flow resulting from increased levels of house building in the South East.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government will in 2007 publish maps of noise from motorways. These maps will be updated at least every five years to take into account any changes in conditions and plans to reduce noise levels will be reviewed accordingly.

House Building (Traffic)

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the Government's house building targets for the South East on (a) traffic flows and (b) consequent noise levels on the M3 between junctions 5 and 7.

Stephen Ladyman: Changes to traffic flows on the M3 between junctions 5 and 7 will depend upon the future location of housing which, in the first instance, will be determined by the South East Plan, currently being drafted by the South East England Regional Assembly. The Highways Agency is contributing to deliberations on the draft Plan.
	We will be reviewing plans to reduce the level of motorway noise as the result of the noise maps that will be published in 2007 in accordance with EU Directive 2002/49/EC.

M3

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when noise levels between Junction 5 and 7 on the M3 were last monitored; and whether there have been changes in the noise levels over time.

Stephen Ladyman: To calculate road traffic noise levels, the Department uses a model set out in the technical memorandum Calculation of Road Traffic Noise rather than roadside noise monitoring, which is subject to variables such as the weather and changing traffic conditions.
	Roadside noise levels have not therefore been monitored on the M3 between Junctions 5 and 7. However, assessments have been made using the traffic noise model. Calculations indicate that the level of traffic noise between M3 Junctions 5 and 7 is likely to have increased by around 4.5dB over the last 20 years.

M3

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans are in place to reduce the levels of motorway noise for residents living around junctions 5, 6 and 7 of the M3; and when those measures will be completed.

Stephen Ladyman: Following an assessment of noise severity, noise barriers have already been installed between M3 junctions 6 and 7 adjacent to the areas of Hatch Warren and Black Dam.
	A further series of noise mitigation measures is also planned for this section of the M3 Motorway. The proposal is to install noise barriers adjacent to the permanent caravan site at Hatch, between M3 junctions 5 and 6. There are also plans to resurface a section of the M3 between junctions 5 and 7 to maintain the operational safety of the carriageway and a lower noise surface will be used.
	Two further sites at Up Nately and Mapledurwell are being investigated for the possible provision of noise barriers.
	Subject to funding, work at the Hatch caravan site work is programmes for 2007 and the resurfacing work in 2008. Following further investigation and availability of funds, work at Up Nately and Mapledurwell will be considered for programming beyond 200910.

M40/A40

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the M40/A40 route management strategy.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency plans to publish this strategy by mid-July.

Mersey Tram

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Merseytram scheme to proceed.

Alistair Darling: I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 13 June. The promoters of Merseytram are exploring the scope for progressing Line 1 within the committed funding.

Mini-Motorbikes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to assess the extent of illegal use of mini-motorbikes on (a) public roads and (b) public spaces.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department currently has no plans to assess the extent of illegal use of mini-motorbikes on public roads and spaces, but we do appreciate that misuse of these vehicles can cause significant alarm, harassment or distress to local communities. I understand that the Home Office has received representations from the police about illegal and irresponsible use of miniature vehicles and is examining what more might be done to tackle this problem.

Motorways/Trunk Roads

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total length is of UK (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads; and how many miles of each were built in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: Roads in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales respectively. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for motorway building in Northern Ireland. There is no designation of trunk roads in Northern Ireland.
	The English road network currently comprises 1,833 miles of motorway and 3,096 miles of all-purpose trunk roads.
	The major schemes (costing more than 5 million) completed on the trunk road network from 1997 to date, and their approximate length, are shown in the tables. Some of the roads listed have since been detrunked, or have become the responsibility of the Greater London authority.
	The road schemes represent improvements rather than necessarily additions to the length of the trunk road network. For example, some represent road widening schemes and some bypasses of routes which are detrunked on completion of the bypass.
	
		
			 All purpose trunk road Scheme description Date of completion Length (miles) 
		
		
			 A69 NewcastleCarlisle (DBFO) May 1997 2.2 
			 A13 Thames AvenueWennington June 1997 4.8 
			 A50 Blythe BridgeQueensway Phase I June 1997 3.1 
			 A564 Derby Southern Bypass and Derby Spur Contract A September 1997 16.9 
			 A50 Blythe BridgeQueensway Phase II November 1997 0.8 
			 A417/A419 Stratton Bypass (DBFO) December 1997 6.4 
			 A417/A419 Latton Bypass (DBFO) December 1997 3.5 
			 A406 Silver StreetFore Street Imp, LB Enfield Late 1997 0.6 
			 Total 1997   38.3 
			 
			 A417/A419 Nettleton Improvement (DBFO) January 1998 4.1 
			 A50/A564 StokeDerby Link (DBFO) March 1998 4.8 
			 A16 Market Deeping/Deeping St. James Bypass July 1998 4.0 
			 A19/A168 DishforthTyne Tunnel (DBFO) September 1998 4.3 
			 A13 WenningtonMar Dyke October 1998 2.0 
			 A12 Hackney WickM11 Contract II November 1998 1.5 
			 A34 Newbury Bypass November 1998 8.3 
			 Total 1998   29.0 
			 
			 A30/A35 Puddleton Bypass (DBFO) April 1999 5.6 
			 A12 Hackney WickM11 Contract 1 August 1999 0.9 
			 A12 Hackney WickM11 Contract 4 August 1999 1.1 
			 A564 Derby Southern Bypass Contract B August 1999 0.5 
			 A12 Hackney WickM11 Contract 3 October 1999 0.5 
			 A13 West of HeathwayThames Avenue December 1999 1.7 
			 Total 1999   10.3 
			 
			 A30/A35 HonitonExeter (DBFO) April 2000 13.7 
			 Total 2000   13.7 
			 
			 A1 Tempsford Junction Improvements October 2001 2.2 
			 Total 2001   2.2 
			 
			 A27 Polegate Bypass June 2002 1.8 
			 A43 Silverstone Bypass September 2002 5.0 
			 A43 Whitfield TurnBrackley Hatch Improvement September 2002 2.8 
			 A43 M40B4031 Dualling September 2002 4.0 
			 A6 Clapham Bypass December 2002 3.1 
			 A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass December 2002 2.4 
			 Total 2002   19.1 
			 
			 A6 Great Glen Bypass February 2003 3.5 
			 A1 WillburnDenwick Improvement (DBFO) March 2003 2.6 
			 A11 Roudham HeathAttleborough Improvement March 2003 6.2 
			 A5 Nesscliffe Bypass March 2003 2.8 
			 A500 Basford, Hough, Shavington Bypass May 2003 4.7 
			 A46 NewarkLincoln Improvement July 2003 8.0 
			 A6 RothwellDesborough Bypass August 2003 3.7 
			 A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass August 2003 3.4 
			 A41 Aston Clinton Bypass October 2003 4.0 
			 A1033 Hedon Road Improvement November 2003 4.2 
			 A6 Alvaston Bypass December 2003 1.4 
			 A650 Bingley Relief Road December 2003 3.1 
			 Total 2003   47.5 
			 A63 Selby Bypass June 2004 6.1 
			 A120 StanstedBraintree Improvement July 2004 14.9 
			 A34 Chieveley M4 J13 Improvement September 2004 1.9 
			 A1 Stannington Junction October 2004 0.0 
			 A10 Wadesmill Colliers End October 2004 4.7 
			 A2 Bean-Cobham Phase I December 2004 3.7 
			 Total 2004   31.3 
			 
			 A21 Lamberhurst Bypass March 2005 1.6 
			 A64 Colton Lane Grade Separated Junction June 2005 0.0 
			 Total 2005   1.6 
		
	
	
		
			 Motorway Scheme description Date of completion Length (miles) 
		
		
			 A1(M) Walshford-Dishforth May 1997 13.0 
			 M25 J810 Widening September 1997 12.4 
			 M1/M621 Link Roads October 1997 0.4 
			 M65 Blackburn Southern Bypass Contract I December 1997 5.5 
			 M65 Blackburn Southern Bypass Contract II December 1997 5.5 
			 M66 DentonMiddleton Contract II (Junction) December 1997 0.0 
			 Total 1997   36.8 
			 
			 M5 J1819 Widening July 1998 2.1 
			 A1(M) AlconburyPeterborough (DBFO October 1998 12.9 
			 M40 M40 DenhamWarwick (DBFO) J1A-J3 December 1998 7.5 
			 Total 1998   22.5 
			 
			 M1-A1 LofthouseBramham Link Road (DBFO) May 1999 18.6 
			 Total 1999   18.6 
			 
			 M66 DentonMiddleton Contract I October 2000 3.7 
			 M66 DentonMiddleton Contract III October 2000 5.6 
			 Total 2000   9.3 
			 
			 A2/M2 Cobham to Junction 4 Widening July 2003 10.6 
			 M6 Toll December 2003 26.8 
			 Total 2003   37.4

Ports

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will issue guidelines for the ports industry on preparing proposals to increase port capacity;
	(2)  if he will establish a sequential test for ports planning which takes into account (a) environmental sustainability, (b) regeneration and (c) the impact on the local economy of port development;
	(3)  what plans he has to integrate port development into a sustainable transport strategy for the UK;
	(4)  what his latest estimate is of how much additional port capacity will be required in the UK over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 years;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of comparative (a) environmental impact and (b) impact on productivity of port expansion proposals.

Stephen Ladyman: The forthcoming review of ports policy will address questions around port capacity and future port development. As part of the preparatory work for the review, the Department has commissioned consultants to produce national port traffic forecasts for Great Britain through to 2030. These forecasts will be disaggregated by region and traffic type, and will be published as part of the review.
	The Department issued guidance on new port developments in April 2003. A Project Appraisal Framework for Ports aims to assist promoters of, those affected by, and others who may wish to make representations about, port developments. In arriving at decisions on these developments, the factors that have been considered will be made clear at the time those decisions are made.
	The review will also look at wider issues, including environmental factors, local regeneration, productivity, and the role of ports in our overall transport strategy.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Karen Buck: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1060W.

Rail Passengers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many traffic movements there are on average each day between South Preston and North Warrington on the M6.

Stephen Ladyman: The average number of vehicles using the M6 between junction 30, in the vicinity of South Preston, and junction 21, in the vicinity of North Warrington, on each weekday in 2004, is provided in the table.
	
		Average 24 hour traffic volumes2004
		
			 Location Direction Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 
		
		
			 J21 to 21A Northbound 67,307 69,490 70,604 72,684 77,449 55,027 53,004 
			  Southbound 64,889 64,980 64,940 65,499 66,281 51,092 54,905 
			  Comb. 132,196 134,470 135,544 138,183 143,730 106,119 107,909 
			  
			 J21A to J22 Northbound 42,801 44,309 45,184 46,671 48,746 34,829 32,605 
			  Southbound 52,631 52,603 52,628 53,273 54,343 38,131 42,217 
			  Comb. 95,432 96,912 97,812 99,944 103,089 72,960 74,822 
			  
			 J22 to J23 Northbound 47,706 49,399 50,845 40,725 49,893 32,592 29,608 
			  Southbound 51,683 51,088 51,615 50,128 53,284 34,693 38,629 
			  Comb. 99,389 100,487 102,460 90,853 103,177 67,285 68,237 
			  
			 J23 to J24 Northbound 52,810 52,645 52,805 53,570 55,372 38,545 42,638 
			  Southbound 51,461 53,325 54,315 56,856 63,057 41,816 37,579 
			  Comb. 104,271 105,970 107,120 110,426 118,429 80,361 80,217 
			  
			 J25 to J26 Northbound 48,828 50,335 51,417 53,260 59,193 39,973 36,666 
			  Southbound 51,120 50,648 50,815 51,734 53,671 38,170 42,946 
			  Comb. 99,948 100,983 102,232 104,994 112,864 78,143 79,612 
			  
			 J27 to J28 Northbound 43,710 44,468 45,725 47,086 53,509 36,117 32,604 
			  Southbound 45,281 44,098 44,476 44,534 46,118 30,051 36,349 
			  Comb. 88,991 88,566 90,201 91,620 99,627 66,168 68,953 
			  
			 J28 to J29 Northbound 47,466 48,722 49,908 51,487 58,968 39,140 34,347 
			  Southbound 47,868 47,011 47,965 48,287 50,756 35,853 40,414 
			  Comb. 95,334 95,733 97,873 99,774 109,724 74,993 74,761 
			  
			 J29 to J30 Northbound 39,934 39,274 39,461 40,762 47,940 32,487 30,101 
			  Southbound 39,889 38,943 38,972 39,160 41,456 30,084 34,895 
			  Comb. 79,823 78,217 78,433 79,922 89,396 62,571 64,996

Railways

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many community rail line designations have been made so far.

Alistair Darling: Three lines have been designated as community rail lines. These are the routes from Watford Junction to St. Albans Abbey (the Abbey line); Middlesbrough to Whitby (the Esk Valley line); and St.Ives to St. Erth (the St. Ives Bay line).

Railways

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the railway industry about the construction of increased capacity at pinch points on the network.

Alistair Darling: The Strategic Rail Authority has begun a series of route utilisation strategies (RUS) to determine the most efficient use of existing network infrastructure which will help to inform the need for future network development. Network Rail will take this work on as the SRA is wound-down under the provisions of the Railways Act 2005.

Railways

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which light rail schemes his Department expects to be completed and in operation by 2010.

Alistair Darling: My Department is considering a number of new light rail scheme proposals, including extensions to existing systems. Completion and operation dates for schemes will depend on the outcomes of our consideration of these proposals.

Road Charging Research

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he commissioned his research on road charging; what the cost was of the research; whether he announced the commissioning of the research at the time it was commissioned; when he made his decisions about the use that would be made of the research; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport announced in a statement to the House on 9 July 2003 a feasibility study into the potential for road pricing in the UK. The Feasibility Study of Road Pricing in the UK was published by the Department for Transport in July 2004.
	The total cost of road pricing research contracts issued between the announcement and publication of the feasibility study was 1,072,838 including VAT.
	In line with its manifesto commitment, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. Further research will be undertaken in due course.

Road Pricing

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will allow a reduced rate for people with disabilities as part of his proposed road pricing system.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. The issue of exemptions and discounts for people with restricted mobility would need careful consideration in any scheme design.

Road Pricing

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set up his proposed road pricing system to charge more to more heavily polluting vehicles and less to vehicles with a lower environmental impact.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. For any road pricing scheme developed, we would ensure that incentives for cleaner vehicles are safeguarded in order to contribute to meeting our environmental targets.

Road Pricing

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the proposed pilot schemes for road pricing will operate; when he expects the first pilot scheme to become operational; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: As our manifesto promised, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing. Although there would need to be one or more pilots for a future national road pricing scheme, no decisions have been made about the timing, nature or location of any such pilots. The Future of Transport White Paper (July 2004) announced our intention to establish a Transport Innovation Fund to give incentives to develop and deploy innovative local transport packages, support innovative mechanisms which raise alternative funding mechanisms and support the funding of regional, inter-regional and local schemes that are beneficial to national productivity. Further details on the aims and operation of the Fund will be published shortly.
	However, the Secretary of State has confirmed that ultimately up to 200 million a year will be made available from the Fund to support local authorities implementing innovative solutions to congestion problems in their local areas where these include demand management based on pricing.

Road Safety

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Paul Flynn) of 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 26W, on road safety, if he will discuss with the Highways Agency conducting further research on distraction to drivers caused by roadside advertising on motorways.

Stephen Ladyman: It is difficult to derive a direct causal relationship between the presence of roadside advertisements and other potential distractions to road accidents because accidents do not happen very often, and when they do, are the result of a number of factors. Therefore, while the Highways Agency will continue to assess the impact and likely safety consequences of individual roadside advertisements, I do not believe that further research is likely to be any more effective in establishing such a link.

Safety Cameras

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving (a) injuries and (b) loss of life (i) have taken place in each year since the installation of speed cameras and (ii) took place in the year before the installation of speed cameras at the site of each fixed speed camera in the Stroud constituency.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is not held centrally, but the Gloucestershire Safety Camera Partnership has provided the information shown in the attached table on the numbers of personal injury collisions (PICs), and the number involving fatalities, before and after the setting up of the camera sites.
	The Gloucestershire Safety Camera Partnership can be contacted via their website at www.glossafetycameras.org.uk.
	
		Fixed speed cameras in Stroud constituencynumber of personal injury collisions (PICs), including collisions involving fatalities,before and after setting-up of sites
		
			  Camera site 
			  A38 Cambridge A4135 Dursley A419 Caincross (in) A419 Caincross (out) A38 Whitminster 
		
		
			 Collisions before setting up   
			 3 years (7)5 (8)2 (9)1 0 (8)4 
			 2 years 0 (8)2 (9)2 0 (9)1 
			 1 year 0 (9)4 (9)1 0 (9)5 
			   
			 Date set up 1 April 1997 1 November 2001 1 May 1995 1 May 1995 1 March 1997 
			   
			 Collisions after setting up   
			 1 year 0 (9)2 (9)2 (9)1 (9)1 
			 2 years (9)3 (9)2 0 (9)1 (9)1 
			 3 years (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 (9)1 
			 4 years (9)1  (9)2 (9)1 (9)1 
			 5 years 0  (9)1 0 (9)2 
			 6 years (9)1  0 (9)5 (9)1 
			 7 years (9)3  (9)1 (9)1 (9)3 
			 8 years   (9)1 (9)1 (9)2 
			 9 years   (9)2 (9)1  
			 10 years   (9)2 (9)1  
		
	
	(7)Including 1 fatal collision
	(8)Including 1 fatal
	(9)0 fatal

Safety Cameras

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on (a) installation of new speed cameras and (b) maintenance and removal of existing speed cameras in (i) Cumbria, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) Cheshire, (iv) Greater Manchester and (v) Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available; and how much was raised in revenue by speed cameras in each area in that year.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department holds funding information for the overall operation of safety camera partnerships, and not the costs relating to the installation, maintenance or removal of camera sites. Detailed information is available from partnerships.
	The Department has published on its website the audit certificates for all partnerships. The latest published information is for 200304 and this shows that receipts from Fixed Penalty Notices in four of these five areas are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Cumbria 1,618,740 
			 Cheshire 1,803,840 
			 Greater Manchester 2,887,080 
			 Lancashire 5,073,600 
		
	
	Merseyside joined the safety camera programme on 1 April 2005, so no historic information is available for that partnership.

Safety Cameras

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which 20 speed camera sites have generated the largest income from fines.

Alistair Darling: The Department's information on fines following offences detected by safety cameras relates to the totals for safety camera partnerships, and not to individual camera sites. Information on the total fine receipts and number of fines for each partnership for the latest audited year 200304 is available on the Department's website of responses to Freedom of Information requests.

Safety Cameras

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many fixed speed cameras have been installed in the last six months.

Alistair Darling: In the six months to 31 May 2005, 54 fixed speed camera sitesapproved as part of operational cases submitted by partnerships in 200405 or earlier have been installed by partnerships in England and Wales.

Safety Cameras

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of speed cameras are non-operational at a given time.

Alistair Darling: Forces' enforcement strategies and the detailed deployment of speed camera equipment between camera sites are police operational matters, and the Department does not hold information on this.

Safety Cameras

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras are installed on roads.

Alistair Darling: The latest information, as held by the Department, was provided in the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 61719W. Further details of all sites within the safety camera programme are available on the Department's website at www.dft.gov.uk.

Shellhaven London Gateway

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those individuals and bodies that have submitted additional evidence and comments on the proposed Shellhaven London Gateway port public inquiry following his extension of the inquiry in 2005.

Stephen Ladyman: The Secretary of State extended in January 2005 the period given for the receipt of representations on the new highways evidence submitted by the Applicant. There was no extension of the public inquiry itself.
	The Secretary of State received representations and comments during the consultation period, in the extension period and after the end of the extension period from individuals and organisations as listed. In some cases the parties' comments were reiterations of their previous evidence rather than submission of any additional evidence.
	Bob Spink MP
	The Highways Agency
	Thurrock Council
	Essex County Council
	The Strategic Rail Authority
	The Port of Tilbury Ltd.
	Shellhaven Project Environmental Action Committee
	Essex Police
	Council for the Protection of Rural Essex
	Thurrock Primary Care Trust
	Ramblers' Association (Essex)
	Representations were also received from two individual local residents.

Shellhaven London Gateway

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the result of the Shellhaven London Gateway port public inquiry.

Stephen Ladyman: A decision on the Shellhaven London Gateway port public inquiry will be announced as soon as possible when Ministers have completed their consideration of all relevant issues.

Transport Police

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many operational police officers were employed by the British Transport Police in each year since 1997.

Alistair Darling: The British Transport Police (BTP) have provided the following information on officers employed by the BTP since 1997.
	
		
			  Number of BTP officers 
		
		
			 1997 2,132 
			 1998 2,095 
			 1999 2,113 
			 2000 2,091 
			 2001 2,109 
			 2002 2,123 
			 2003 2,206 
			 2004 2,280 
			 2005 2,494

Tyne Tunnel

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his response to the public inquiry into the second Tyne tunnel crossing.

Stephen Ladyman: We expect to be able to announce a decision shortly on the application for a Transport and Works Act Order, in parallel with ODPM taking decisions on related listed building consent applications.

Vehicle Registration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's preparedness to process all outstanding conversions from V5 to V5C Vehicle Registration before the deadline for the change.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's internal planning processes, has estimated that, of those Registration Documents that remained to be converted to V5C Registration Certificates no more than half would be surrendered for conversion before the deadline for the change despite its publicity efforts. The Agency has ensured that there are sufficient staff available to process at least this number of conversions.

Vehicle Registration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's advertising campaign to raise awareness of the change from V5 to V5C Vehicle Registration has cost; and what elements the cost comprises.

Stephen Ladyman: The total cost of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's advertising campaign to raise awareness of the change from V5 Vehicle Registration Document to V5C Vehicle Registration Certificates was 2.7 million. This comprised:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Adverts in the national and motoring press 1,226,000 
			 On-line advertising 111,000 
			 Leaflets and posters 55,000 
			 Public relations 56,000 
			 A two week television advertising campaign 1,252,000

Vehicle Registration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many applications for a change from V5 to V5C vehicle registration the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has received in each of the last six months; and what the average processing time has been in each month.

Stephen Ladyman: For the sixth-month period from December 2004 to May 2005 DVLA processed in excess of 1.2 million V5 vehicle registration documents which resulted in the issue of V5C vehicle registration certificates in respect of vehicles where a V5C had not been issued previously. The volume of V5s processed for each month is December 2004281,441. January 2005300,415. February 2005224,094. March 2005193,750. April 2005168,839. May 2005130,100.
	In 200405 DVLA's target was to deliver 95 per cent. of V5s within 12 working days of receipt. For 200506 the target is to deliver 95 per cent. within 14 working days. This reflects the decision to move to second class post. The actual performance achieved for the last six months is December 200496.5 per cent. January 200598.63 per cent. February 200599.14 per cent. March 200598.30 per cent. April 200598.92 per cent. May 200598.13 per cent.

Vehicle Registration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate has been made by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of the number of V5 Vehicle Registration documents remaining to be converted to the V5C Vehicles Registration document as at 1 June.

Stephen Ladyman: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has estimated that, as of 1 June 2005, the number of V5 Vehicle Registration Documents remaining to be converted to the V5C Registration Certificate was 800,000.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft her Department recorded in each year since 200102; and for each year on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside her Department.

Richard Caborn: My Department (a) has had no cases of computer hacking. (b) has had no cases of computer fraud. (c) has had the following equipment stolen:
	2001: 1 Palm Pilot
	2002: 1 Mini laptop
	1 Laptop
	2003: 1 Laptop
	1 Desktop PC
	2 CPUs
	2004: 1 Blackberry
	2005: 1 Blackberry
	My Department (i) has had no cases of computer systems illegally accessed from within DCMS. (ii) has had one case of computer systems illegally accessed from outside the Department in 2003.

Digital Television (Northern Ireland)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which areas of Northern Ireland are unable to receive Freeview.

James Purnell: At present, only the Divis, Limavady and Brougher Mountain transmitters broadcast digital signals in Northern Ireland, to around 58 per cent. of the population.
	Due to the already crowded nature of the UHF spectrum, it is not possible to extend coverage significantly beyond this level without switching off the analogue transmissions, which we expect to be completed between 2008 and 2012.

Football Foundation

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was allocated to the Football Foundation by her Department in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) Government region and (b) parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Football Foundation was formed in 2000.
	Between 200004, the Football Foundation, including the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, received 62 million in funding from Government. Last year, the Government agreed a new funding package of 45 million for the period between 200407.
	Details of DCMS funding to the Football Foundation broken down by (a) Government regions and (b) parliamentary constituencies is not available as it is funded into a joint pot comprising match funds from The FA, FA Premier League and Government.

Licensed Premises

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate (a) the number of licensed premises and (b) the number of licensed premises serving food in each local authority in England.

James Purnell: Statistical information on licensed premises is not held by local authority area. It has been collated by Court area, reflecting the previous licensing regime. In collecting this data, the Courts have made no distinction between pubs which serve food, and those which do not. However, based on that information and my Departments own estimates, the national position is as follows:
	(a) in England, there are 105,595 establishments licensed to sell alcohol on the premises; and
	(b) between 90 per cent. and 95 per cent. of these establishments serve prepared food.

Sports Clubs (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of (a) football, (b) rugby, (c) tennis, (d) athletics, (e) hockey and (f) swimming clubs in London in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: My Department does not hold this information.

Village Hall Committees

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 895W, on village hall committees, what reports she has received from police and licensing authorities on whether village hall committees have been, or are, carrying on a business without an appropriate licence.

James Purnell: pursuant to the reply, 21 June 2005, Official Report, c. 895W
	I can confirm that my Department has received no reports from the police or licensing authorities on whether village hall committees have been, or are, carrying on a business without an appropriate licence.

SCOTLAND

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

David Cairns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

David Cairns: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Taxis

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the Department has spent on taxis in each of the last five years.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office spent the following on taxis:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200001 7,853 
			 200102 8,518 
			 200203 10,130 
			 200304 8,960 
			 200405 8,266

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The security situation in Afghanistan remains stable but fragile. Elements opposed to the democratic process continue to carry out periodic attacks against the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and coalition forces, international and Afghan NGO personnel, and the Afghan people. Such attacks are likely to increase in the run-up to parliamentary and provincial elections in September. As with the presidential election in October 2004, ISAF and coalition forces will support the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to provide a secure environment for the elections.

Correspondence

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letters of 16 March and 31 January from the hon. Member for Maldon and East Chelmsford to the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State regarding Ms Marisa Namprom.

Kim Howells: holding answer 23 June 2005
	UK visas, the Department responsible for entry clearance matters arising overseas, sent a letter on this matter to the hon. Member on 22 June 2005.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 329W, on overseas corruption, from which missions each allegation came; on what date each was received; and to which law enforcement agency each was forwarded.

Ian Pearson: Under the current arrangements for handling allegations under part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, all such allegations were passed to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. However, these arrangements are about to be revised to give the Serious Fraud Office the central role on future allegations. The Government refrain from commenting on the specific origin of these allegations to avoid prejudicing continuing law enforcement investigations.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list seminars and presentations organised by the Government for the UK business community since December 2003 to raise awareness of the UK's obligations under (a) the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Anti-Bribery Convention and (b) Part 12 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

Ian Pearson: The events in question can take many forms, ranging from presentations at large formal events to smaller briefing sessions or discussions. Since December 2003, the Government (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) have spoken at events for the UK business community covering foreign bribery in the following countries: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Kuwait, Iran and China. The next such event is planned for Moscow at the end of July.

Corruption

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received regarding recent (a) investigations and (b) prosecutions of UK companies in connection with corruption overseas.

Ian Pearson: I understand that 24 matters referred to UK law enforcement under part 12 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 since February 2002 are under investigation. In those cases under investigation, no charges have yet been brought under these provisions and it would not be appropriate to comment on operations which are currently in progress.

Hong Kong

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on the appointment of the new Chief Executive for Hong Kong, Sir Donald Tsang.

Ian Pearson: We have not had any discussions with the Chinese Government about Donald Tsang's appointment as Hong Kong's new Chief Executive.
	Donald Tsang was the only candidate to gain sufficient Election Committee nominations to stand for Chief Executive. In accordance with the basic law, the State Council of the Chinese Central Government formally appointed Donald Tsang as Hong Kong's new Chief Executive on 21 June 2005.
	Donald Tsang has a distinguished record of serving the people of Hong Kong and we are confident that he will continue to do so as Chief Executive. We have excellent relations with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and we are confident that our ties will continue to flourish under the new Chief Executive. As signatories of the joint declaration, we take seriously our commitment to ensure a stable, democratic and prosperous future for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Hong Kong

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards democracy in Hong Kong.

Ian Pearson: The Government supports democracy throughout the world as the best means of creating stable, accountable and transparent government, of protecting rights and freedoms, and of upholding the rule of law.
	The ultimate aim of the basic law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is a Chief Executive and Legislative Council elected by universal suffrage. We favour early progress to this end. We hope that the Hong Kong SAR Government will take full account of the wishes of the people of Hong Kong.
	We noted that the legislative council elections in September 2004 were generally well run. For the first time half of the 60 members of the Legislative Council were elected directly by the people with a record number of the electorate, more than 55 per cent. turning out to vote.
	The Hong Kong SAR Government taskforce on constitutional reform was expected to issue its fifth and final report in the spring of this year. The final report will contain definitive proposals on the methods by which the Chief Executive and Legislative Council are to be elected in 2007 and 2008. However, following the resignation of the Chief Executive in March, the publication of the report has been delayed until the appointment of the new Chief Executive.
	We will continue to watch this issue closely and look forward to seeing the task force's proposals.

Iran

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet a representative of the Iranian Government to discuss the treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to meet the Iranian Foreign Minister or any other member of the Iranian Government.
	We continue to have serious concerns about the situation of the Baha'i community in Iran. Reports suggest that a number of Baha'is have recently been arrested. We have pressed the Iranian authorities on many occasions to allow the Baha'is to practise their faith without interference, and will continue to do so, both bilaterally and through the EU.

Iran

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment the UK embassy in Iran has made of Iranian Government policy towards Baha'-s; what assessment he has made of whether the policies set out in the 1991 memorandum entitled The Baha'- Question, drafted by the Revolutionary Cultural Council of Iran remain official Government policy in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We are not aware that the Iranian authorities have acknowledged the authenticity of the 1991 memorandum, nor commented in detail on current policy towards the Baha'-s. The Baha'-s are the largest non-Muslim religious group in Iran, yet unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, are not recognised in Iran's constitution. Members of the Baha'- community have suffered intimidation and harassment, had property confiscated and been denied access to education and employment, apparently on account of their faith. A number of Baha'- sites have been demolished, organisers of Baha'- community activities have reportedly been harassed and the Baha'- faith has been denigrated in the state-owned media. Many of these acts appear to have been carried out by, or with the support or acquiescence of, the Iranian authorities.
	We have raised our concerns about the situation of the Baha'-s in Iran with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, and will continue to do so, bilaterally and with our European Union partners.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations he is undertaking into the detention and deportation from Israel on 7/8 May of a delegation of women from Birmingham at Tel Aviv airport; and what representations he is making to the Government of Israel on the matter.

Kim Howells: Staff from the British embassy in Tel Aviv and the British consulate general in Jerusalem contacted the Israeli authorities several times regarding Israel's decision to detain the delegation of women from Birmingham on the night of 7/8 May. The British embassy in Tel Aviv is also raising this incident with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
	The Israeli Government have the right to decide on matters of leave to enter Israel. The various procedures of security staff at entry points to Israel are a matter for the Israeli Government and are outside our direct control. Our own procedures are similarly protected. But we have raised on many occasions the manner in which the Israeli immigration and security authorities treat British travellers at points of entry.

Luke Noble

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governor of the British Virgin Islands about the sentence issued by the court in the case of Luke Noble.

Douglas Alexander: The British Virgin Islands' judiciary acts independently of the Territory's Government, of which the Governor is the constitutional head, and of the United Kingdom Government. There is no provision allowing for the prosecution to appeal sentence at present, although I understand this situation is under review.

Nigeria

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure the security of British citizens working in Nigeria in relation to terrorist threats.

Ian Pearson: The British High Commission in Nigeria maintains close contact with the Nigerian authorities on security issues, including terrorism. It also maintains a network of over 100 British community liaison officers throughout Nigeria, and stays in close contact with those who employ large numbers of British citizens. Like other British diplomatic posts, the High Commission has emergency plans to guide response to incidents involving British citizens. Information on potential security threats, including terrorism, is included in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) travel advice for Nigeria, available on the FCO's website: www.fco.gov.uk

North Korea

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the Six Party Talks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's nuclear programme.

Ian Pearson: The Six Party Talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), China, the US, Russia, South Korea and Japan began in 2003 but participants have not met since June 2004. We fully support this process as the best means to resolve international concern over the DPRK nuclear issue. We have regularly urged the Government of North Korea to return to the Six Party Talks, and to engage constructively with a view to agreement on the verifiable dismantlement of all its nuclear weapons programmes. There have been recent reports suggesting that North Korean leaders may be ready to resume talks soon. We hope that is the case and that they will do so in a constructive spirit without preconditions.

Prisoner Abuse (US Forces)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the United States Administration on reports of prisoner abuse by US forces; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We condemn utterly all acts of abuse.
	We maintain a regular dialogue with the US Government on a great many foreign policy issues, including at the highest levels, about allegations of abuse by US forces.
	The US authorities have conducted a number of inquiries into these allegations, and where there has been evidence of abuse, individuals have been punished.

Sir David Manning

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list Sir David Manning's engagements for 6 June.

Ian Pearson: Sir David Manning's engagements for 6 June included meetings with His Excellency Mr. Franciskus van Daele, ambassador of Belgium, and Mr. Mark Everson, commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service; hosting the British school graduation ceremony and introducing the British headmistress; and introducing and attending a lecture delivered by Mrs. Blair. In addition, he had a number of internal meetings.

Taliban

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the search for (a) al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and (b) Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 23 June 2005
	For reasons which the hon. Member will understand, we do not comment on operational matters. As demonstrated by the recent arrest in Pakistan of Abu Faraj Al Libi, significant progress is being made against the senior leadership of al-Qaeda and senior Taliban allies.

United States

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visitors who have been provided with accommodation and hospitality by his Department at official residences in Washington DC since 1 May.

Ian Pearson: We are unable to provide this information. To do so would incur disproportionate costs, and some of the information might have to be withheld on security or privacy grounds.

Vietnam

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the social and political situation in Vietnam.

Ian Pearson: Vietnam is a one-party state in which the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) decides all major policy issues. The country's current leadership was confirmed by the last major 9th Communist Party V Party Congress in 2001. Vietnam is expected to continue its successful doi moi (renovation) economic reform programme at the next CPV Party Congress in 2006. No significant changes to Vietnam's political system are expected. Vietnam's next major challenge is to join the World Trade Organisation, possibly late this year, which should further consolidate and spur its economic reforms.
	We remain concerned about the human rights situation in Vietnam and have an increasingly open dialogue with the Vietnam Government on such issues. We are also working with Vietnam and its neighbours on their efforts to tackle terrorism, illegal immigration and organised crime in the region.
	Other major challenges facing Vietnam include regional economic disparity, stubbornly high poverty in remote ethnic-minority regions and the influx of unregistered internal migrants to major cities. The Department for International Development's (DFID) support to Vietnam is one of the fastest growing UK aid programmes in the world, assisting Vietnam's social and economic development including the transition to a market-based economy.

Zimbabwe

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is proposing to encourage the international community to take action to address the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Ian Pearson: We condemn the Zimbabwe authorities' forcible destruction of housing and small businesses, which has rendered hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without livelihoods.
	We are working actively to end the violence and help the victims. Britain has protested strongly to the Zimbabwean authorities; is providing humanitarian assistance to those in greatest need; and is encouraging all members of the international community to follow suit.
	With our strong support, the EU has condemned Mugabe's actions and has agreed to ban from Europe and freeze the assets of another 25 of his henchmen. We are in regular contact with the US, Canada, Australia and others, who have joined us in speaking out. We are encouraging other African Governments to engage. And we are in close touch with the UN Secretary-General, who is despatching his own special envoy to Zimbabwe, Anna Tibaijuka, to report on the situation there.
	We will continue to work with the international community for a return to democratic governance and the rule of law in Zimbabwe.

TREASURY

2011 Census

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is in relation to recognising Kashmiris as an ethnic group in the 2011 census.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Goodman, dated 27 June 2005:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking what the policy is in relation to recognising Kashmiris as an ethnic group in the 2011 census. (7039)
	The ethnicity question will be reviewed as part of the general preparations made by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the 2011 census when the questions and classifications for all topics will be reviewed before the selection of the final question set. ONS are planning a substantial programme of question testing and consultation with users of census data for the next few years and it is not possible to confirm what questions are to be included in the 2011 census until this is complete.
	ONS began a programme of consultation on topics to be included in its 2011 census with a paper issued on the ONS website on 16 May 2005, The 2011 census: initial view on content for England and Wales, which invites responses by 5 August 2005. During the planning for the consultation process we recognised this issue as one of serious importance. The criteria for including questions in the 2011 census are set out in the consultation paper, which can be found at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/consultations/2011census.asp
	The consultation paper is the starting point for discussion with users about their data requirements for the 2011 census and is being supplemented by roadshows around the country during June and July. Following analysis of the written responses and comments made at the roadshows, a report will be published summarising the responses and setting out ONS' latest position.

Birth and Death Records (Digitisation)

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the digitisation of the UK's birth and death records will be carried out abroad.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Dr. John Pugh, dated 27 June 2005
	As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much of the digitisation of the UK's birth and death records will be carried out abroad. (6609)
	There are three processes involved in the proposed digitisation of the UK's birth and death records.
	The first process is to create digital images of the record from the existing microfilm or paper records. All image digitisation, whether microfilm or paper based will be done in the UK. No original registration records or paper quarterly copies will leave the UK.
	The second process is to data capture key elements of the information on the image to create searchable index fields for each record. This second process will take place in India.
	The third process involves the review of any individual records which are difficult to decipher and have failed the data capture process. At this stage all the records will be subjected to overall quality assurance, validation and acceptance testing. All of these processes will be carried out in a Centre of Excellence established at the General Register Office in Southport, Merseyside.

Computer Crime

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each year since 200102; and for each year, on how many occasions computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers (i) within and (ii) outside his Department.

John Healey: The Department has recorded the following incidents.
	
		
			 Incident 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 (to date) 
		
		
			 (a) Hacking 1 1 0 1 0 
			 (b) Fraud 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (c) Theft 2 24 10 4 1 
			 (i) Illegal access from within 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (ii) Illegal access from outside 1 1 0 1 0

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce offers best practice advice to the public sector through its web-based product, the Successful Delivery Toolkit (www.ogc.gok.uk/sdtoolkit/). This guidance is aimed at public sector organisations and complies with Government policy and regulations for procurement but is not specifically tailored to the voluntary sector. The guidance encompasses:
	purchasing consultancy services, covering the tendering process;
	use of professional advisors, including consultants;
	where it may be appropriate to use consultants, for example, in construction or specification writing;
	examples of specific guides that are relevant to the procurement and supply of consultancy services:
	i. delivering world-class consultancy services to the public sector-A statement of best practice;
	ii. the Government Procurement Code of Good Practice for Customer and Suppliers.

Contracts (Value Audits)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what monitoring his Department undertakes on the value for public money of contracts that are entered into by its agencies.

John Healey: The professional Procurement Team of HM Revenue and Customs responsible for Treasury procurement, advise, oversee and in many cases procure the goods and services required by the Debt Management Office.
	OGCbuying.solutions negotiate framework agreements and managed services agreements with private sector suppliers for specific goods and services.
	These agreements deliver procurement savings by, among other things, aggregating demand and standardising customer requirements to take advantages of economies of scale; establishing long-term and partnership relationships with suppliers that remove supply side risk of the unknown and the associated cost on of that risk and by providing the public sector with ease of access to a broad range of requirements, on a one-stop-shop basis.

Customs and Excise Fraud (Staff)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding concerns about fraud by staff working for HM Customs and Excise in the past 20 years.

Dawn Primarolo: Since October 2000, representations and allegations of fraud or impropriety against officers of HM Customs and Excise have been referred to the Internal Investigation Division (IID). The IID has responsibility for dealing with criminal and disciplinary investigations in partnership with other law enforcement staff and the police. Prior to October 2000 such matters were referred to either internal investigators, external investigators or senior Departmental managers.

Departmental Estate

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the office space in central London owned or rented on behalf of his Department, (b) the amount of space in each of the locations per full-time equivalent member of staff and (c) the occupancy rates of each; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: HM Treasury occupies 1 Horse Guards road which has a net usable area of 22,215 square metres. This represents approximately 18 square metres per full-time equivalent member of staff. The building is permanently occupied during normal working hours.

Electrocution Fatalities

Nick Gibb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were killed by accidental electrocution in each year since 1994.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many people were killed by accidental electrocution in each year since 1994. (6574)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2003. Figures for deaths due to accidents caused by exposure to electric current are shown in the table below for each year from 1994 to 2003.
	
		Number of deaths from accidental exposure to electric current(10)in England and Wales, 1994 to 2003(11)
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1994 37 
			 1995 42 
			 1996 36 
			 1997 39 
			 1998 37 
			 1999 50 
			 2000 41 
			 2001 34 
			 2002 24 
			 2003 25 
		
	
	(10)Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) code E925 for the years 1994 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes W85-W87 from 2001 onwards.
	(11)Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

HM Revenue and Customs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the fraud hotline to the Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs does not extend to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The fraud hotline (0800 788 887) can be accessed throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. I understand that calls are in fact received from Northern Ireland.

HM Revenue and Customs

Roger Gale: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the resignation of the chairman of HMRevenue and Customs following the publication of the Adjudicator's Annual report.

Dawn Primarolo: No. As I said in my written statement of 26 May I have agreed with the chairman of HMRC six measures to improve the administration of tax credits. HMRC are now working to deliver these measures.

Hot Weather Fatalities

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many excess deaths were ascribed to hot weather in each year since 1980, broken down by age.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many excess deaths were ascribed to hot weather in each year since 1980, broken down by age. (6565)
	Death rates in England and Wales vary seasonally, being lower in summer than in the winter months. However, analyses of urban populations indicates that all-cause mortality rises during heatwaves. In most summers, temperatures do not get high enough to raise mortality from the usual seasonal low. The main exceptions in recent years were 1995 and 2003. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has carried out special analysis into excess deaths during the 1995 and 2003 heatwaves. The analysis of the 1995 heatwave, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in February 1998, found that there were an estimated 619 extra deaths in England and Wales between 30 July and 3 August compared to the expected number of deaths based on the 31-day moving average for that period. The analysis found that excess deaths were apparent in all age-groups. The analysis of the 2003 heatwave, published in Health Statistics Quarterly 25 in February 2005, found that there were 2,091 excess deaths in England between 4 and 13 August compared to the average for the same period in the previous five years. The analysis found that the elderly (aged 75 and over) were most affected by the heatwave.

Indirect Tax Losses

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the illicit market share for (a) cigarettes, (b) spirits and (c) oils in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Estimates of the illicit market share for the latest four years for which data are available for spirits, cigarettes and oils are given, respectively, in tables 3.3, 3.9 and 3.14 of the Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses document published by HM Customs and Excise alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2004. This is available from the House of Commons Library.
	Earlier years estimates for cigarettes and oils can be found in chapter 4 of the Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses document published in December 2003. There are no comparable estimates for spirits prior to 19992000 due to improvements in data and methodology.

Methadone Deaths

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in the UK were wholly or partly attributed to methadone in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Fabian Hamilton, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths in the UK were wholly or partly attributed to methadone in the last 12months for which figures are available. (6964).
	Available figures relate to the number of deaths from drug-related poisoning where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate. The most recently available information for all the countries of the United Kingdom is for deaths in 2003. It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved. Figures related to the number of deaths where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, either alone or with other substances, are shown in the table below.
	
		Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning(12)where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, United Kingdom, 2003(13)
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 Methadone:  
			 Mentioned alone(14) 83 
			 Total mentions 264 
		
	
	(12)Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14.
	(13)Data are for deaths occurring in the calendar year for England and Wales, and for deaths registered in the calendar year for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
	(14)Methadone is the only drug mentioned on the death certificate.

Public Conveniences

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many public conveniences were recorded on the commercial and industry property database of the Valuation Office Agency in each London borough in each year since 2000.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of public conveniences shown in the rating list, for each London borough, for each year since 2000, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Billing authority name April 2000 March 2001 March 2002 March 2003 March 2004 March 2005 April 2005 
		
		
			 City of London 25 25 26 25 25 25 25 
			 Barking and Dagenham 15 15 14 17 17 17 17 
			 Barnet 13 14 12 8 7 6 6 
			 Bexley 17 16 15 10 10 10 10 
			 Brent 9 9 9 8 6 4 4 
			 Bromley 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 
			 Camden 17 16 15 15 15 14 14 
			 Croydon 19 19 19 15 15 14 14 
			 Ealing 10 10 10 10 9 10 10 
			 Enfield 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 
			 Greenwich 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 
			 Hackney 14 14 12 11 2 2 2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 16 14 14 14 14 14 14 
			 Haringey 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 
			 Harrow 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 
			 Havering 27 27 27 27 27 27 27 
			 Hillingdon 17 17 18 17 7 8 8 
			 Hounslow 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 
			 Islington 23 8 7 9 8 8 8 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 
			 Kingston upon Thames 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 
			 Lambeth 16 15 15 15 16 16 16 
			 Lewisham 17 16 16 14 13 13 13 
			 Merton 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Newham 8 6 5 5 5 5 5 
			 Redbridge 24 23 22 22 21 21 21 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 11 11 11 11 10 10 
			 Southwark 17 17 18 14 14 14 14 
			 Sutton 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 22 20 18 18 18 18 18 
			 Waltham Forest 16 16 17 17 14 14 14 
			 Wandsworth 21 20 20 20 19 19 19 
			 Westminster 46 46 46 41 40 40 41

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 68384W, on the public procurement Directive, what the Government's definition is of a competent authority; and which authorities have been identified as suitable for collating information on convictions in relation to this directive.

John Healey: The EU public procurement Directive (2004/18/EC) does not provide a definition of competent authority in relation to Article 45. It is left for member states to designate the authorities competent to carry out the role of providing information on the personal situation of the candidates or tenderers concerned. The Office of Government Commerce is in discussion with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) on this aspect of Article 45.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 68384W, on the Public Procurement Directive, if he will list those who responded to the consultation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses which referred to Article 45 of EU Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) received 255 responses from a wide range of organisations following the 2004 consultation exercise on the new Public Procurement Directive (2004/18/EC). These included Government Departments, local authorities, law firms, suppliers, trade unions and other interested parties. A summary of these responses is available on the OGC website: http://www.ogc.gov.uk/index.asp?docid=1002407, and the list of respondents, excluding those who requested confidentiality, is included in alphabetical order as follows:
	Allen and Overy
	Association of British Healthcare Industries
	(Employee of) Bristol City Council
	British Telecom
	Cap Gemini
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Criminal Justice Information Technology
	Construction Employers Federation
	Construction Federation
	Customs and Excise
	Defence Procurement Agency
	(Employee of) Denton Wilde Sapte
	Department for Constitutional Affairs
	Department for International Development
	Department for Trade and Industry
	Department for Transport
	Department for Works and Pensions
	Disability Rights Commission
	Equal Opportunities Commission
	Ex Remploy Director
	Furniture Industry Strategy Group
	GMP
	HM Treasury
	Home Office
	IDeA
	Inland Revenue
	Isle of Wight Sheltered Workshop
	ISTCthe Community Union
	Loughborough University
	Millstream Associates Ltd
	Nabarro Nathanson
	National Association of Supported Employment
	National Audit Office
	National Housing Federation
	NHS PASA
	Northern Ireland
	ODPM
	OGC
	OGC Buying Solutions
	Peacocks Medical Group
	Remploy
	Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
	Royal National Institute for the Blind
	Small Business Service
	Solicitors in Local Government
	Treasury Solicitors
	TUC
	Ulster Supported Employment Ltd
	Unison
	Warwickshire City Council
	Wates
	Welsh Purchasing Consortium
	As part of this consultation, OGC asked recipients to consider several key areas. These included Article 45, which concerns the mandatory exclusion of suppliers convicted of certain offences from public contracts. Copies of the consultation responses that specifically mentioned Article 45 have been placed in the Library. Copies of all other responses will be placed in the Library shortly.
	In some cases there was more than one response from organisations. In particular, there were many responses from Remploy and its employees.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the record of discussions and correspondence between the Office of Government Commerce and the Criminal Records Bureau about implementation of Article 45 of the EU Procurement Directive 2004/18/EC.

John Healey: The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is considering with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) how best to implement Article 45, a I said in my written answer to the hon. Gentleman on 9 June 2005, Official Report, columns 68283WA. It would not be appropriate to make available the record of discussions and correspondence between OGC and CRB. Doing so would inhibit the formulation and development ofGovernment policy, a process which is currently on-going.

Public Procurement Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Office of Government Commerce has had further discussions with the private and public sectors about Article 45 of the new EU publicprocurement Directive 2004/18/EC since the consultation exercise was undertaken in 2004.

John Healey: Since the 2004 consultation exercise, the implementation of the new EU public procurement Directive has been, and will continue to be, discussed in numerous seminars, conferences and meetings involving the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). These occasions are normally requested and arranged by other interested parties, including other Government departments, the devolved Administrations, local authorities and the wider public sector, the legal community, suppliers and NGOs, and are separate from OGC's formal consultation process. Article 45 often features in such discussions, along with all other main provisions of the new Directive. On 20 June 2005 OGC began a further 12-week consultation on the draft Regulations implementing the Directive, including Article 45. OGC is in discussion with the Criminal Records Bureau on the practical implementation of this Article.

Regional Gross Domestic Product

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on Office for National Statistics regional gross domestic product statistics; and what the differences are between the methods used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics and the methods used in other European Union countries;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of the differences between the methods used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics and the methods used in other European Union countries on the allocation of European regional aid funds to disadvantaged areas of the United Kingdom.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Maclean, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Office for National Statistics (ONS) regional gross domestic product statistics and the differences between the methods used by ONS to produce these and the methods used in other European Union countries. (6116  6126)
	ONS published gross value added (GVA) NUTS 1 to 2003, and NUTS 2 and 3 to 2002, in December 2004. A guide to ONS methods for calculating regional GDP is available on the ONS website at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/economic_trends/UK_Regional_GDP_methodological_guide.pdf.
	Additional resources and a move into National Accounts Group have contributed to significant improvement to the quality assurance processes of regional economic statistics since the withdrawal of estimates in December 2002. Emphasis is on ensuring the quality of data inputs and there is a no risk strategy in place to generate confidence in regional economic statistics outputs.
	ONS have not carried out a comparison between methodologies used to calculate regional gross domestic product statistics in European Countries. As a result, an assessment on the allocation of European regional aid funds to disadvantaged areas in the United Kingdom has not been produced.

Regional Gross Domestic Product

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics for regional gross domestic product do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Maclean, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on what steps are being taken to ensure that the treatment of (a) extra-regio gross domestic product and (b) financial and investment services in Eurostat statistics do not disadvantage UK regions with regard to the allocation of European regional aid funds. (6125)
	My responsibility is to ensure that proper statistical processes are followed, and that the statistics are the best that can be devised. To this end I have written to the Director General of Eurostat (MrHanreich) twice this year to express my concern at the approach adopted in the calculation of Regional GDP per capita. I have questioned the treatment of both Extra-Regio and FISIM (Financial Intermediation Services Indirectly Measured).
	I last wrote to Mr Hanreich on 3 June and have yet to receive a reply.

Scottish Currency

James McGovern: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he provides to businesses in England on the legality of Scottish currency.

Ivan Lewis: The Treasury provides no guidance to businesses in England about the legality of Scottish banknotes.

Strychnine Hydrochloride

David Maclean: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be possible to import strychnine hydrochloride into the UK for use in the destruction of moles after 1 September 2006.

Jim Knight: I have to been asked to reply.
	For strychnine hydrochloride to be used in the UK to control moles it first requires a specific authorisation for that purpose under either the Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC) or the Biocidal Products Directive (98/8/EC). The requirement for a specific authorisation for use applies irrespective of the origin of the strychnine hydrochloride.

Sustainability

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons his Department is seeking to change the accepted definition of sustainability to stress the economic arm above the environmental dimension.

John Healey: The Treasury is not seeking to change the accepted definition of sustainable development.
	The June European Council reiterated its attachment to sustainable development as a key principle governing all the Union's policies and activities. Within this context, and as agreed at spring European Council, it is vital that the Lisbon strategy be relaunched without delay and with priorities refocused on growth and employment.

Tax Credits

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement by the Paymaster General of 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 80114, on tax credit overpayments; 
	(1)  if he will take steps to improve the operation of the tax credit offices;
	(2)  if he will (a) undertake an investigation into the workings of the tax credits offices and (b) appoint an official with overall responsibility for tax credits; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement I made to the House on 26 May 2005, Official Report, columns 2223WS and the oral statement I made to the House on 22 June 2005, Official Report, columns 80114.

Tax Credits

Maria Miller: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been in receipt of an incorrect level of tax credit in Basingstoke; how many of these could not reasonably have been expected to know that a mistake had been made; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of tax credit awards for families living in Basingstoke that have been affected by official error are not available.

Underage Pregnancy and Abortion

Mike Hancock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer how many girls in Portsmouth aged under 17 years (a) gave birth and (b) had abortions, in each of the last five years, broken down by age group.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 27 June 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary asking how many girls in Portsmouth aged under 17 years (a) gave birth and (b) had abortions in each of the last five years. (6332)
	The maternity data given in the Table 1, attached below, for each of the years between 1999 and 2004 are for girls who gave birth aged under 17, and who were resident in Portsmouth Unitary Authority at the time of the event. Abortions figures are only available for the larger Health Authority area for 19992001 prevailing at the time and only for under 18 for Portsmouth UA in 2002. These figures, along with their equivalents for maternities are shown in Table 2.
	Due to the possibility of individuals being identified, a further breakdown by age cannot be provided.
	
		Table 1: Maternities for under 17 year olds,Portsmouth unitary authority 19992004
		
			  Number of maternities 
		
		
			 1999 22 
			 2000 11 
			 2001 15 
			 2002 25 
			 2003 13 
			 2004 19 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics
	
		Table 2: Maternities and abortions for under 17 year olds for health authorities containing Portsmouth UA 19992001, Maternities and abortions for under 18 year oldsfor Portsmouth UA 200204
		
			  Number of maternities Number of abortions 
		
		
			 (a) Under 17   
			 1999(15) 53 74 
			 2000(15) 42 88 
			 2001(16) 62 100 
			 (b) Under 18   
			 2002(17) 56 76 
			 2003(17) 47 n/a 
			 2004(17) 46 n/a 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(15)Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Health Authority
	(16)Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and South East Hampshire Health Authority
	(17)Portsmouth UA
	Sources:
	Maternities Office for National Statistics
	Abortions Department of Health

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Housing

Desmond Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many affordable housing units built or procured through (a) the Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme and (b) the Challenge Fund were (i) mixed funded social rented housing, (ii) temporary social rented housing, (iii) Homebuy general market purchase, (iv) Homebuy general new build, (v) mixed funded low cost home ownership for sale, (vi) miscellaneous works to RSL stock, (vii) reimprovements to rented RSL stock, (viii) works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock, (ix) works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale, (x) intermediate rent for key workers, (xi) Homebuy market purchase for key workers, (xii) Homebuy new build for key workers, (xiii) mixed funded sale for key workers and (xiv) starter home initiative in the South East Region in each year since 199798; and how much was spent on each category in each year.

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the number of homes built or acquired and funding provided through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP), Challenge Fund and the Starter Home Initiative in the South East region for the categories (i) to (xiv) for each year since 199798.
	Funding and completions are not directly comparable, as funding will relate to projects running, not necessarily units completed, in any one year.
	
		Numbers of homes built or acquired in the South East region
		
			   199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 ADP 
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 3,540 3,231 2,304 2,145 2,450 2,488 2,236 1,942 
			 (ii) Temporary social housing 259 268 162 106 130 46 46 44 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase   133 187 314 356 396 222 
			 (iv) Homebuy New Build9 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 359 578 202 430 305 467 647 807 
			 (vi) Miscellaneous works n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (vii) Re-improvements rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (viii) Works Only rehabilitation n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (ix) Re-improvements sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 (x) Intermediate rent for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 871 
			 (xi) Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1,319 
			 (xii) Homebuy New Build for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 17 
			 (xiii) Mixed funded sale for key workers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 355 
			   
			 Challenge Fund   
			 (i) Mixed funded rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 323 710 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 29 111 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 273 520 
			  Intermediate Rent n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 62 137 
			   
			 (xiv) Starter Home Initiative n/a n/a n/a n/a 68 893 2,368 188 
		
	
	Miscellaneous works, re-improvements to rented RSL stock, works only rehabilitation of rented RSL stock and works only rehabilitation of RSL stock for sale are not recorded as completed dwellings as they may have previously received funding and would therefore be double counted.
	The information in the table does not include all programmes that the ADP is used for and therefore does not represent the total funding for the South East region. Other categories with funding during the period covered by the table are Right to Acquire, Voluntary Purchase Grant, Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership, and Temporary Intermediate and Market Rent Housing.
	
		Expenditure in the South East region through ADP, Challenge Fund and Starter Home Initiative for the listed categories --  million
		
			   199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 ADP 
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 54.37 43.65 54.73 61.92 70.85 85.22 149.25 145.11 
			 (ii) Temporary social housing 2.84 2.61 2.20 1.68 1.64 0.98 1.15 0.48 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase 0.00 0.00 2.93 4.45 9.06 11.78 14.11 9.20 
			 (iv) Homebuy New Build 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 2.60 2.55 6.20 5.16 6.53 11.57 20.08 28.27 
			 (vi) Miscellaneous works 6.26 3.10 1.53 1.66 2.25 1.52 2.62 2.33 
			 (vii) Re-improvements rent 0.72 0.91 1.03 1.31 1.07 0.82 0.97 1.42 
			 (viii) Works Only rehabilitation 0.42 0.16 0.91 0.28 1.61 0.98 1.63 1.53 
			 (ix) Re-improvements sale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.17 
			 (x) Intermediate rent for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15.51 
			 (xi) Homebuy Market Purchase for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47.30 
			 (xii) Homebuy New Build for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.76 
			 (xiii) Mixed funded sale for key workers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24.35 
			 Challenge Fund   
			 (i) Mixed funded rent 0 0 0 0 0 0 64.59 14.55 
			 (iii) Homebuy Market Purchase 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.86 0.45 
			 (v) Mixed funded sale 0 0 0 0 0 0 36.76 2.98 
			  Intermediate Rent 0 0 0 0 0 0 8.30 0.05 
			   
			 (xiv) Starter Home Initiative 0 0 0 0 1.65 20.65 58.21 4.64 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Affordable Housing

Anthony Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much the Government plan to allocate for the provision of affordable housing in Devon in each of the next three years;
	(2)  how much of the Housing Corporation's affordable housing programme he expects to be allocated to provide affordable housing in the (a) South Hams, (b) Torbay and (c) Teignbridge districts in the next three years.

Yvette Cooper: The allocations made for provision of affordable housing in Devon in 200405 and 200506 total 46.0 million; 3.1 million, 6.8 million and 3.0 million of this is for housing in South Hams, Torbay and Teignbridge, respectively.
	Decisions on the overall level of funding for affordable housing in the South West region in 200607 and 200708 will be taken over the summer in the light of advice from the South West Regional Housing Body. The allocation of these funds across the region, which will be announced early next year, will reflect advice from the board and the quality and the value for money of bids to the Housing Corporation.

Barker Report

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the results of the consultation on the Barker Report.

Yvette Cooper: To date the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has consulted on one aspect of the Barker reporther recommendation that Regional Housing Boards and Regional Planning Bodies be merged, and that those merged bodies be supported by strong, independent advice.
	We have already announced the establishment of an independent advice unit and that merger will go ahead. We are however still considering a number of points of detail in relation to both issues and will be making further announcements soon.

Council Tax

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes are proposed for the student exemption from council tax; and under what circumstances key worker accommodation (a) leased by universities and (b) rented by students and others will be exempt from council tax.

Phil Woolas: No changes are proposed to the student exemption from council tax. Dwellings which are occupied entirely by students are exempt from council tax. Students sharing with non-students are disregarded for the purposes of calculating the household's bill. Halls of residence, as defined in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order (SI 1992/558), are exempt from council tax provided the accommodation is provided predominantly for students.

Departmental Relocation

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of his Office's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Non-Departmental Public Bodies and Agencies are implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate posts out of London headquarters by 2010. The target of relocating 240 posts was agreed in SR04.
	103 posts have already been relocated to the areas set out as follows:
	
		
			 Location Number of Posts Moved 
		
		
			 GO North East 4 
			 GO North West 18 
			 GO Yorkshire and Humberside 8 
			 GO West Midlands 5 
			 GO East Midlands 18 
			 GO East 18 
			 GO South East 4 
			 GO South West 7 
			 GO London 8 
			 Hastings 2 
			 Hemel Hempstead 4 
			 Glossop 7 
			 Total number of posts moved 103 
		
	
	With this progress so far, we are confident that we can meet the target of 240 by 2010. This will not exclude consideration of relocating some posts to relatively deprived areas in the South East.

Disabled Facilities Grants

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) what plans the Government have to reform the Disabled Facilities Grant for (a) disabled children and (b) disabled adults;
	(2)  when he plans to publish the conclusions of the review of the Disabled Facilities Grant; what research has been commissioned as part of the review; and whether the research will be made public.

Yvette Cooper: The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is currently the subject of a wide ranging interdepartmental review. As part of this, a team from Bristol University are looking at the operation of the DFG system including the means test. Any proposals for change, as well as research and evidence will be published in due course.

Fire Emergency Calls

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) genuine and (b) malicious false alarm fire emergency calls have been received in (i) inner and (ii) Greater London in each year since 1999.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information provided by the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA) showing the number of false fire alarms attended by the London Fire Brigade since 1999 is set out in the following table. Genuine false alarms are those generated by automatic equipment and by people believing that there was a fire (good intent).
	
		Types of fire false alarm attended by London Fire Brigade
		
			  19992000 200001 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 27,467 7,063 6,870 29,333 7,182 6,255 
			 Camden 3,446 621 414 3,682 565 331 
			 City of London 936 89 27 1,014 100 26 
			 Hackney 1,524 633 759 1,645 610 619 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,446 343 229 1,535 340 253 
			 Haringey 1,256 441 532 1,297 429 455 
			 Islington 1,606 527 515 1,726 504 512 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,169 334 136 2,145 374 189 
			 Lambeth 1,618 630 496 1,662 641 469 
			 Lewisham 1,400 521 631 1,486 449 403 
			 Newham 1,054 557 915 1,029 607 914 
			 Southwark 1,854 602 539 1,902 694 596 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,205 617 776 2,332 703 747 
			 Wandsworth 1,739 401 332 1,725 421 266 
			 Westminster 5,214 747 569 6,153 745 475 
			
			 Outer London 19,328 6,734 5,517 19,321 6,651 5,015 
			 Barking and Dagenham 319 360 449 298 427 368 
			 Barnet 1,431 496 261 1,306 520 293 
			 Bexley 676 323 275 695 262 230 
			 Brent 1,263 411 429 1,312 380 482 
			 Bromley 903 384 301 905 441 256 
			 Croydon 1,065 446 386 1,138 434 352 
			 Ealing 1,490 466 380 1,420 444 347 
			 Enfield 1,059 448 387 1,302 389 337 
			 Greenwich 697 528 550 792 531 482 
			 Harrow 715 197 132 791 219 128 
			 Havering 739 286 156 536 284 163 
			 Hillingdon 2,875 485 369 2,788 481 242 
			 Hounslow 1,063 427 327 994 408 311 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,029 176 148 1,151 162 92 
			 Merton 667 257 168 662 251 146 
			 Redbridge 799 305 230 741 316 209 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 934 220 66 894 202 82 
			 Sutton 801 170 112 756 155 109 
			 Waltham Forest 803 349 391 840 345 386 
			 Borough not known 1,033 223 100 537 109 100 
			 Total 47,828 14,020 12,487 49,191 13,942 11,370 
		
	
	
		
			  200102 200203 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 30,281 7,800 6,577 29,505 7,559 5,615 
			 Camden 4,039 669 431 3,716 616 311 
			 City of London 1,097 110 33 992 99 19 
			 Hackney 1,669 708 613 1,714 663 488 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,614 324 195 1,623 364 176 
			 Haringey 1,395 468 526 1,431 481 584 
			 Islington 1,585 563 404 1,717 494 392 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,246 381 225 2,156 341 155 
			 Lambeth 1,827 647 491 1,594 614 431 
			 Lewisham 1,649 505 470 1,353 524 314 
			 Newham 1,029 691 939 1,125 642 805 
			 Southwark 1,841 763 603 1,819 733 507 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,238 796 842 2,174 793 773 
			 Wandsworth 1,729 428 325 1,794 410 241 
			 Westminster 6,323 747 480 6,297 785 419 
			 Outer London 20,454 7,494 5,594 19,644 6,976 4,378 
			 Barking and Dagenham 303 509 397 420 428 325 
			 Barnet 1,393 465 310 1,327 452 246 
			 Bexley 755 344 197 690 319 170 
			 Brent 1,273 403 379 1,191 407 376 
			 Bromley 1,006 436 252 901 387 182 
			 Croydon 1,134 530 439 1,136 476 269 
			 Ealing 1,402 442 445 1,374 427 266 
			 Enfield 1,421 505 488 1,285 475 461 
			 Greenwich 1,023 626 587 1,033 537 404 
			 Harrow 1,042 243 173 1,061 235 138 
			 Havering 552 363 136 554 330 130 
			 Hillingdon 2,849 569 379 2,544 557 303 
			 Hounslow 1,001 481 317 972 426 229 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,105 175 108 1,109 152 77 
			 Merton 806 305 163 693 259 142 
			 Redbridge 800 364 245 930 339 223 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 928 185 74 873 208 53 
			 Sutton 785 214 139 734 209 120 
			 Waltham Forest 876 335 366 817 353 264 
			 Borough not known 90 39 33 22 19 2 
			 Total 50,825 15,333 12,204 49,171 14,554 9,995 
		
	
	
		
			  200304 
			 Borough Automatic fire alarm Good intent Malicious 
		
		
			 Inner London 30,354 7,288 5,339 
			 Camden 3,823 519 342 
			 City of London 1,136 122 30 
			 Hackney 1,692 634 428 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,820 333 152 
			 Haringey 1,469 480 420 
			 Islington 1,829 519 416 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,189 389 161 
			 Lambeth 1,718 578 403 
			 Lewisham 1,258 512 654 
			 Newham 1,037 633 636 
			 Southwark 1,854 658 480 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,295 760 608 
			 Wandsworth 1,815 426 254 
			 Westminster 6,419 725 355 
			 
			 Outer London 20,442 8,717 4,519 
			 Barking and Dagenham 397 525 351 
			 Barnet 1,377 579 195 
			 Bexley 805 413 169 
			 Brent 1,319 447 402 
			 Bromley 929 511 232 
			 Croydon 1,192 547 284 
			 Ealing 1,401 527 332 
			 Enfield 1,319 599 405 
			 Greenwich 953 675 418 
			 Harrow 1,192 287 223 
			 Havering 599 441 156 
			 Hillingdon 2,502 721 267 
			 Hounslow 1,021 542 182 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,185 198 67 
			 Merton 713 296 137 
			 Redbridge 991 427 192 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 891 266 67 
			 Sutton 793 267 131 
			 Waltham Forest 863 449 309 
			 Borough not known 40 30 6 
			 Total 50,836 16,035 9,864 
		
	
	Note:
	200203 excludes 15 strike days.
	Source:
	LFEPA

Fire Service

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of Fire and Rescue Service staff have received training on using incident response units at the Fire Service College.

Jim Fitzpatrick: During 2004 approximately 320 fire and rescue service personnel were trained at the Fire Service College on Incident Response Units (IRUs). This enabled cascade training to be undertaken in individual fire and rescue authorities so that now, approximately every firefighter (50,000) has received basic training on mass decontamination and the IRUs.
	In 2005, the Fire Service College is providing 180 fire and rescue service personnel with mass decontamination instructor training covering use of the IRUs. To date, 120 personnel have attended the course.

Home Information Packs

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will publish the regulatory impact assessment on his proposed HIP energy reports;
	(2)  whether the regulatory impact assessment on the proposed home information pack energy reports followed guidelines on (a) air quality and (b) emissions of air pollutants; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The energy report in the home information pack will implement, for marketed sales, a requirement of the EU directive 2002/91/EC (Energy Performance of Buildings) which was negotiated by Government in 200102. An initial RIA on the directive was carried out and the assessment concluded that as well as improving awareness of energy efficiency the directive would help reduce carbon emissions. A separate RIA on the energy report has not been carried out. A full RIA for the directive will be produced before regulations for its implementation are laid in Parliament.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my hon. friend to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

House Prices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate the (a) Government and (b) Valuation Office Agency has made of the yearly change to average (i) house prices and (ii) capital values of residential property from material improvements to residential properties in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's monthly house price index shows that house prices for the United Kingdom as a whole rose by 6.9 per cent. in the year to April 2005. This information is published on our website on a monthly basis. The latest monthly index was published 13 June at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pns/displaypn.cgi?pn_id=2005_0109.
	The ODPM does not make estimates of the yearly change to average capital values of residential property from material improvements.
	The Valuation Office Agency publishes a Property Market Report. Their latest report is available on their website at: http://www. voa.gov. uk/publications/property_market_report/pmr-jan-2005/index.htm.
	The Valuation Office Agency has not made an estimate of the yearly change to average capital values of residential property from material improvements.

House Sales Chains

Mike Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will bring forward a framework for legal redress to purchasers in house sales chains who suffer losses due to individuals who withdraw their pledge to sell at a late stage.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Although an agreement to sell a house in England and Wales is usually made subject to contract and is unenforceable until contracts are exchanged, the parties may, at the outset, enter into an enforceable contract for the payment of compensation if one of them pulls out.
	In its review of the home buying and selling process in 1998, the Government concluded that it would not be appropriate to make such compensation agreements compulsory, given the wide variety of circumstances that could cause a sale to fail and the difficulty of apportioning blame.
	The Government have, instead, enacted legislation that is expected, when fully implemented, to help reduce the incidence of failed transactions and to make the process more transparent.
	The provision, by sellers, of home information packs should ensure that offers are made on an informed basis and buyers are not taken unawares by problems with the property at a late stage in the transaction. This should reduce the length of the period between agreeing terms and exchange of contracts, when most of the problems occur. The Government intend to introduce compulsory Home Information Packs from 2007.
	The introduction of electronic conveyancing, also from 2007, will include a chain matrix revealing the stage reached by each transaction to all the other participants in the chain. This information should enable those involved in the chain to make realistic assessments of the situation and to resolve delays more quickly.

Housing

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the house-building required on Canvey Island to meet his longer term building targets.

Yvette Cooper: There is no such estimate for Canvey Island, which is within Castle Point district. The draft East of England Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), which was produced by the East of England regional assembly rather than the Government, proposes 4,000 extra homes in this district as a whole between 2001 and 2021. The soundness of the assembly's proposals will be tested at an Examination in Public starting this autumn. The final version of the strategy, including housing figures, will take account of the recommendations of the independent panel which will hold the examination.

Housing

Jeremy Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of brownfield development in Kenilworth is development of land previously used for dwellings or their gardens.

Yvette Cooper: The information available is for the area of Warwick district council. From land use change statistics, over the period 1997 to 2003 an average of two hectares a year have been developed on land previously used for dwellings or gardens, representing 10 per cent. of all development on previously-developed land.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many first-time buyers in Oxfordshire he expects to benefit from the First Time Buyers Initiative.

Yvette Cooper: It is too early to say how many first time buyers in Oxfordshire will be helped through the First Time Buyers Initiative. Our target for the initiative is to provide 15,000 affordable homes across England over the next five years to 2010. This target can be found in our Five Year Strategy, Sustainable Communities: Homes for All, published by us in January 2005 (a copy of which is available in the Library of the House). English Partnerships is now developing a delivery plan for the First Time Buyers Initiative.
	Our consultation document HomeBuy; Expanding the opportunity to own launched in April 2005 set out various proposals for simplifying, making fairer and expanding our low cost home ownership programme. The consultation process closes on 24 June, and the results will be fed into English Partnerships' delivery plan. English Partnerships will be working closely with stakeholders such as the Regional Housing Boards, local planning authorities and others to assess local demands and accommodate them where possible taking account of regional strategies and development plans. Regional Housing Boards will advise on groups to be given priority, reflecting the needs of the region.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many key workers in Oxfordshire he expects to benefit from (a) Social Home Buy, (b) New Build Home Buy and (c) Open Market Home Buy.

Yvette Cooper: It is not currently possible to estimate how many key workers in Oxfordshire will benefit from the Government's proposals for low cost home ownership. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on proposals and will then need to take decisions based both on the representations we receive and in the light of Regional Housing Board recommendations as to how and where of the South East Region allocation of 805.161 million funding for housing for the two year 200608 should be invested.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public sector land the Government has released for housing in Oxfordshire in the last five years; and how much further such land he plans to release.

Yvette Cooper: It is the responsibility of local planning authorities to identify and release land for housing as part of the planning process.
	The Government have implemented a number of initiatives to assist with land supply in support of the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	A register of surplus public sector land held by central Government bodies has been established. English Partnerships is currently reviewing the sites on the register to identify those which could have the potential for housing development. As at March 2005 there were 713 sites on the register. Sites are continually being added as they are identified as surplus by landowners and removed once expressions of interests are received after a site has been marketed. A list of the sites on the register, as at March 2005, can be found on the English Partnerships website at: http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/images/16EE954C904340DDAB44702EF5D2ADE6.pdf.
	English Partnerships will publish a quarterly update of sites on the register.
	English Partnerships has also recently taken ownership of the first 67 sites from a portfolio of 96 surplus NHS sites. The sites are currently being assessed for their development potential and will then be taken forward in consultation with the relevant local planning authorities. English Partnerships and the Defence Estates have also signed a joint working agreement on surplus land. This sets out how the agencies will work together with the objective of maximising the potential of surplus defence sites to help deliver the Sustainable Communities Plan.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and English Partnerships also maintain the National Land Use Database of Previously-Developed Land (NLUD-PDL). This covers vacant and derelict land and also land in use with potential for development. It covers land in both public and private ownership. Information on the sites is available from the NLUD website www.nlud.org.uk.
	In addition English Partnerships is developing the National Brownfield Strategy which will provide a coherent vision for the future development of brownfield land to underpin national, regional and local development aspirations. The strategy will help our targets for building new homes on brownfield land.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many key workers in Oxfordshire have benefited from the Starter Home Initiative, broken down by district council area.

Yvette Cooper: 327 key workers in Oxfordshire were helped to purchase homes under the Starter Home Initiative. The following table breaks down the figure by district council and by key worker group.
	
		
			  Number of key workers assisted 
			 Local authority Nurses/health workers Teachers Police Others 
		
		
			 Cherwell 6 11 14 6 
			 Oxford 102 43 27 9 
			 South Oxfordshire 15 46 14 4 
			 Vale of White Horse 1 10 5 0 
			 West Oxfordshire 4 7 3 0 
			 Total 128 117 63 19 
		
	
	Note:
	Other key workers helped under the Starter Home Initiative included social workers, fire fighters, occupational therapists, prison and probation service staff.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how much of the Housing Corporation's affordable housing programme he expects to be committed to help provide affordable housing in the Cherwell district over the next three years;
	(2)  how much the Government intends to commit to the provision of affordable housing in Oxfordshire in each of the next three years.

Yvette Cooper: The allocations made for provision of affordable housing in Oxfordshire in 200405 and 200506 total 49.1 million; 6.3 million of this is for housing in Cherwell.
	Decisions on the overall level of funding for affordable housing in the South East region in 200607 and 200708 will be taken over the summer in the light of advice from the South East Regional Housing Board. The allocation of these funds across the region, which will be announced early next year, will reflect advice from the Board and the quality and the value for money of bids to the Housing Corporation.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how much the Housing Corporation committed towards the provision of affordable housing for each district area in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much Social Housing Grant has been committed in Oxfordshire in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that money was in support of section 106 schemes in each year.

Yvette Cooper: Expenditure on affordable housing in Oxfordshire provided through the Housing Corporation broken down by district, in the last five years, is detailed in the following table. The programmes included in the table are the Approved Development Programme (ADP), the Local Authority Social Housing Grant (LASHG) and Transitional LASHG, the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund (SCSHF), and the Starter Home Initiative (SHI).
	The amount supporting s106 is only available for 200405. The total proportion for Oxfordshire is 19.6 per cent.
	
		 million
		
			  ADP LASHG SCSHF SHI Total 
		
		
			 200001  
			 Cherwell 1.103 1.608 0.000 0.000 2.711 
			 Oxford 2.567 0.218 0.000 0.000 2.785 
			 South Oxfordshire 0.711 5.494 0.000 0.000 6.205 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.080 4.808 0.000 0.000 4.888 
			 West Oxfordshire 0.402 0.925 0.000 0.000 1.327 
			 Oxfordshire Total 4.863 13.053 0.000 0.000 17.916 
			   
			 200102  
			 Cherwell 1.690 1.161 0.216 0.000 3.067 
			 Oxford 1.584 1.248 0.000 0.270 3.102 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.241 4.392 0.000 0.000 5.633 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.414 9.734 0.000 0.000 10.148 
			 West Oxfordshire 1.687 3.377 0.000 0.000 5.064 
			 Oxfordshire Total 6.616 19.912 0.216 0.270 27.014 
			   
			 200203  
			 Cherwell 2.280 0.583 0.093 0.328 3.284 
			 Oxford 1.091 0.673 0.000 1.267 3.031 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.341 4.714 0.000 0.580 6.635 
			 Vale of the White Horse 0.810 5.878 0.000 0.173 6.861 
			 West Oxfordshire 0.748 6.436 0.224 0.067 7.475 
			 Oxfordshire Total 6.270 18.284 0.317 2.415 27.286 
			   
			 200304  
			 Cherwell 2.914 0.593 0.447 0.435 4.389 
			 Oxford 17.741 0.000 0.000 3.014 20.756 
			 South Oxfordshire 1.332 1.244 0.000 1.428 4.004 
			 Vale of the White Horse 2.124 4.346 0.000 0.358 6.828 
			 West Oxfordshire 2.934 4.160 0.013 0.362 7.469 
			 Oxfordshire Total 27.045 10.343 0.460 5.597 43.446 
			   
			 200405  
			 Cherwell 2.736 0.259 0.201 0.113 3.309 
			 Oxford 18.602 0.000 0.000 0.047 18.649 
			 South Oxfordshire 3.655 0.288 0.000 0.152 4.095 
			 Vale of the White Horse 2.342 0.999 0.000 0.000 3.341 
			 West Oxfordshire 5.144 0.366 0.000 0.067 5.577 
			 Oxfordshire Total 32.479 1.912 0.201 0.379 34.971 
		
	
	Note:
	All data analysed by sponsoring local authority
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has received from the Regional Housing Board on the amount of affordable housing needed in Oxfordshire (a) in 2005 and (b) over the next 10 years.

Yvette Cooper: The South East Regional Housing Board has not given any advice to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on the amount of affordable housing needed in Oxfordshire.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people in Oxfordshire he expects to benefit from the Key Worker Living Scheme.

Yvette Cooper: Allocations are not made by individual counties. The Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area has been allocated over 37 million in 200405 and 200506 to invest in the provision of key worker living homebuy equity loans to help an estimated 900 households into home ownership by March 2006. In addition funding has been allocated to develop over 1,600 new homes to rent or buy through shared ownership in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire area by March 2007.

Housing

Tony Baldry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who the zone agent is for Oxfordshire in the Key Worker Living Scheme.

Yvette Cooper: Keystart Housing Association is the zone agent for the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire area supported by Sovereign Housing Association in Oxfordshire.

Housing

John Denham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the key worker housing scheme in Hampshire.

Yvette Cooper: The Starter Home Initiative helped 870 key workers to buy their first home in Hampshire. Key Worker Living has so far helped a further 433 key workers from Hampshire. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has commissioned evaluations of both the Starter Home Initiative and the Key Worker Living programme to assess their impact. The final report on the Starter Home Initiative and the initial findings of the Key Worker Living evaluation will be published in due course.

Housing

John Denham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to allow public service employers greater local discretion in determining who should benefit from the key worker housing scheme.

Yvette Cooper: Under the Key Worker Living programme, the responsible Government Department for the education, health, prison and probation sectors decide the eligibility criteria based on recruitment and retention evidence gathered at a local level. For the Police and Fire Services, it is the contributing force, not the Home Office or the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), which determines eligibility.
	As part of the consultation on low cost home ownership HomeBuy: Expanding the Opportunity to Own we are proposing to allow Regional Housing Boards to define eligibility for our new First Time Buyer programme, which could include key workers not currently included in the definition of Key Worker Living to reflect local priorities. ODPM will shortly be reviewing those recommendations and will make a statement on future eligibility in due course.

Local Authorities

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what Government policy is on local authorities providing an opportunity for councillors to ask questions of executive members at public meetings of the full council.

Phil Woolas: The Local Government Act 2000 provides significant flexibility for local authorities to draw up their constitutions, in which they may include provision for councillors to ask questions of executive members at public meetings of the full council. It is for each local authority to decide whether, and how, they provide for this.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average change in total Government grant per capita for (a) district councils, (b) county councils, (c) metropolitan councils, (d) unitary councils, (e) London boroughs, (f) fire authorities and (g) police authorities was in England in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: pursuant to his reply, 6 June 2005, c.405
	I regret that incorrect information was provided. The correct information is set out in the table.
	
		Percentage
		
			  199899  to 19992000 19992000  to 200001 200002  to 200102 200102  to 200203 200203  to 200304 200304  to 200405 
		
		
			 London (excluding GLA) 6.0 6.7 4.4 4.7 12.3 2.4 
			 Metropolitan authorities 7.3 7.7 7.2 5.6 16.1 2.3 
			 Unitary authorities 6.5 8.1 6.3 6.3 16.5 -0.3 
			 Shire counties 6.2 8.7 7.1 4.8 13.0 2.8 
			 Shire districts 1.8 3.1 4.5 5.1 10.7 -8.5 
			 Fire authorities 3.6 2.3 3.0 2.4 4.5 -20.8 
			 Police authorities 2.3 4.5 6.0 2.4 7.3 2.3 
		
	
	The data used to calculate the changes are taken from data as reported by local authorities; they are outturn figures for 199899 to 200304 and budget estimates for 200405.
	Changes between years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities. For example, the decrease for fire authorities between 200304 and 200405 is due partly to the lower levels of grant per capita received by combined fire authorities compared with other fire authorities. Before 200405 grants were not paid directly to combined fire authorities and so these were not included in the figures for earlier years.

Local Government Pensions

James McGovern: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many responses he received to the consultation on the revoking of the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004.

Phil Woolas: In total 488 responses were received.

Local Government Pensions

James McGovern: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to revoke the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 547W.

Local Government Pensions

James McGovern: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made in establishing a tripartite committee to discuss local government pensions; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr.Drew) on 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 27273W.
	A further meeting of the committee is to be held shortly.

M25 Inquiry

Ian Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the outcome of the Motorway Service Areas Inquiry for the M25.

Yvette Cooper: Ministers are currently considering six proposals for motorway service areas at Great Hazes, Great Wood and Junction 8/9 on the M4, New Barn Farm on the M25, and Mount Hill Farm and Burtley Wood on the M40.
	Many of these proposals have been subject to previous inquiries and decisions, and the case is therefore particularly complex. We will endeavour to issue a decision shortly.

Millennium Dome

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much of the parking area adjacent to the Millennium Dome remains in the ownership of the Government.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The car park adjacent to the Dome is owned by London Underground and is currently largely used by commuters. The former coach park is now the site of the Beckham Academy. Only the former kiss and drop car park (for setting down passengers), once used by the New Millennium Experience Company is owned by English Partnerships and this will form part of the Dome's initial car parking.

Property-based Loans

Tom Levitt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contribution to the cost of participation in local government schemes and services came from equity release or other property-based loans to service users, in (a) absolute and (b) percentage terms, in the latest period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of how this proportion will change over the next 10 years.

Phil Woolas: Under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance) (England and Wales) Order 2002 local authorities have wide discretionary powers to provide assistance to homeowners and tenants to repair, improve and adapt their homesincluding for example, equity release loans.
	Since then there has been a slow switch from local authorities offering renovation grants to loans including equity release packages. The latest figures available show that authorities made available 1.2 million in loans for this purpose in 200304 (0.5 per cent. of total assistance given) and planned to increase this to 8.8 million in 200405 (2.7 per cent.). This compares with a total level of housing renewal assistance (grants and loans for home improvement) made available by local authorities of 256 million in 200304, increasing to a planned level of 325 million for 2004/05. Separate figures on the proportion of loans offered as equity release are not currently available.
	Local authority's use of their new powers has been monitored through a research project sponsored jointly between the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and undertaken by the Centre of Urban and Regional Studies at the University of Birmingham. The final report of this study is expected to be published shortly. The preliminary conclusions of it are that the switch from grants to loans is proceeding at a relatively slow pace but that the majority of local authorities are now actively considering such a change.

Rented Housing

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the provision of rented housing to single people.

Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 492W.

Rented Housing

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has commissioned on the effects of council house sales on the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Research commissioned by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) into the exploitation of the Right to Buy scheme by companies revealed that around 2,000 properties sold under the Right to Buy in Inner London from 2000 onwards were by 2003 privately rented. A summary of the findings and the research report itself were published early in 2003, and are available from the ODPM website at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house _609025.hcsp.
	Section 187 of the Housing Act 2004 tackles exploitation by companies by providing that an agreement made by a tenant within a specified time to sell on to a company a property purchased under the Right to Buy scheme will require the tenant to repay some or all of the discount s/he received. This provision came into effect on 18 January 2005.

Roadside Advertising

Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of unauthorised roadside advertisements placed next to motorways.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made an estimate of the number of unauthorised roadside advertisements placed next to motorways.

Roadside Advertising

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Government policy on commercial advertising alongside (a) motorways and (b) major roads.

Yvette Cooper: Outdoor advertisements are controlled by local planning authorities under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992.
	Most advertisements on land directly facing motorways and major roads require the express consent from the relevant local planning authority as well as prior permission from the landowner before they may be displayed lawfully. When considering whether an advertisement should be allowed to be displayed, the local planning authority must consider amenity and public safety aspects on a site-specific basis.
	Local planning authorities have enforcement powers to deal with advertisements displayed unlawfully.

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money has been allocated to each London local authority from the Safer Stronger Communities fund.

Phil Woolas: The Safer Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF) merges several existing ODPM and Home Office funding streams. Funding will be a minimum of 210 million in 200506, 220 million in 200607 and 230 million in 200708. The allocations to each London borough for 20056 are shown in the table.
	
		
		
			 Borough Total Living spaces allocation 200304 (three year allocation) 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 654,517.00 63,000.00 
			 Barnet 496,711.00 123,905.00 
			 Bexley 366,236.00  
			 Brent 1,067,592.00 86,368.00 
			 Bromley 452,760.00  
			 Camden 3,417,093.00 34,528.00 
			 City of London 150,970.00  
			 City of Westminster 1,395,638.00 20,000.00 
			 Croydon 1,044,461.00 64,680.00 
			 Ealing 2,361,275.00  
			 Enfield 806,563.00  
			 Greenwich 3,199,168.00 43,694.00 
			 Hackney 1,693,751.00 68,803.00 
			 Hamm and Fulham 707,624.00 73,836.00 
			 Haringey 1,312,611.40  
			 Harrow 346,065.00 49,250.00 
			 Havering 356,841.00 25,000.00 
			 Hillingdon 465,133.00 25,000.00 
			 Hounslow 450,315.00 1000,000.00 
			 Islington 1,034,415.00 225,464.00 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 662,432.00 8,067.00 
			 Kingston upon Thames 258,113.00 20,000.00 
			 Lambeth 1,386,905.00 215,473.00 
			 Lewisham 1,100,655.12 74,330.00 
			 Merton 334,262.00  
			 Newham 1,842,313.00  
			 Redbridge 444,113.00 16,000.00 
			 Richmond upon Thames 322,436.00 35,000.00 
			 Southwark 1,727,931.00 82.846.00 
			 Sutton 315,427.00  
			 Tower Hamlets 1,243,324.00 88,005.00 
			 Waltham Forest 1,363,230.00 24,700.00 
			 Wandsworth 1,054,832.00 48.770.00 
			 Total 33,835,712.52 1,616,719.00

Safer Stronger Communities Fund

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the allocation from the Safer Stronger Communities Fund to each local authority in England is for financial year 200506, in terms of (a) total amount and (b) amount per capita, broken down by each element of the Fund.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Smoke Alarms

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many and what percentage of (a) battery-operated and (b) hard-wired smoke alarms were found to be defective in dwelling fires in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested for each year since 1994 is contained in the following table.
	
		Smoke alarm failures in dwelling fires by type of alarm, England, 19942003
		
			  1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 
		
		
			 Battery-powered  
			 Alarm present 6,234 6,064 7,238 7,754 8,108 
			 Alarm failed 1,688 1,805 2,613 2,870 3,447 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 27 30 36 37 43 
			   
			 Mains-powered  
			 Alarm present 4,831 5,457 7,115 7,994 9,330 
			 Alarm failed 400 493 664 731 953 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 8 9 9 9 10 
		
	
	
		
			  1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Battery-powered  
			 Alarm present 9,156 9,596 10,189 9,395 10,057 
			 Alarm failed 3,867 4,199 4,467 3,936 3,945 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 42 44 44 42 39 
			   
			 Mains-powered  
			 Alarm present 10,832 11,597 11,370 10,929 11,896 
			 Alarm failed 1,276 1,310 1,464 1,314 1,425 
			 Failure rate (percentage) 12 11 13 12 12 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Data exclude estimates for incidents not recorded during periods of national industrial action in 2002 and 2003.
	2.Mains-powered alarms include those powered by mains only or by battery and mains.
	Source:
	Fire and Rescue Service FDR1 returns to ODPM.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Adult Education

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the level of education budget on adult education provision.

Angela Smith: Under its current budget allocations, the Department for Employment and Learning continues to support a wide range of education and training provision that is accessible to adults and young people alike. This includes mainstream courses, as well as a proposed strategy for e-learning, a consultation document on which will be published in the autumn. In addition to a comprehensive programme of further education, adult learners are eligible for skills training and work preparation programmes, including the pilot Training for Work initiative.

Ball-bearing Guns

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there were in the Province for the illegal use of ball-bearing guns in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The information is not available in the form requested.
	Information supplied by the PSNI shows the number of offences cleared from 2001 to 2005 where air guns, which include ball-bearing guns, were involved in the incident.
	
		Offences cleared where an air gun was involved in the incident(18)
		
			 Clearance type 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Charge/summons 4 5 15 13 
			 Adult caution/informed  warning 0 5 3 2 
			 Juvenile restorative caution/  informed warning 4 4 3 12 
			 Otherwise disposed of 14 8 14 34 
			 Total offences cleared 22 22 35 61 
		
	
	(18)These figures relate to offences where an air gun was involved in the incidenthow the air gun was actually used is not recorded.

Bovine TB

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of cattle in Northern Ireland are estimated to have bovine tuberculosis, broken down by constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: In 200405 financial year 13,154 cattle had a positive reaction to a bovine tuberculosis test compared to 15,593 in the previous year. This represents 0.78 per cent. of the cattle in Northern Ireland. Disease incidence is not available by constituency.
	There is clear evidence of a decline in the incidence of TB which is expected to continue this year. This reflects the impact of all the measures which have been introduced to deal with TB and I greatly appreciate the support of the farming industry in the implementation of these measures.

Carers' Week

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department took to mark Carers' Week 2005.

Shaun Woodward: In addition to many other events that were held across Northern Ireland in support of Carers' Week 2005, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety organised a Carers Convention for its own staff. The aim of the Convention was to highlight the contribution made by carers and the information and support available to them in undertaking their important role. The event was staged with the direct participation of some of the key voluntary and community organisations behind Carers' Week 2005.

Classroom Assistants

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many classroom assistants are working in schools in each Education and Library Board area in Northern Ireland; and what the equivalent figures were for each of the past five years.

Angela Smith: The available information in respect of the number of classroom/nursery assistants employed in each Education and Library Board area across the school sectors is detailed as follows:
	
		Full/part time classroom and nursery assistants in controlled and maintained schools
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB 
			  Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 200001 276 154 211 669 233 864 69 1,023 302 588 
			 200102 294 125 206 713 270 979 82 1,104 322 605 
			 200203 306 175 142 684 287 1,085 71 1,243 337 702 
			 200304 329 489 147 820 294 1,193 (19)70 1,566 324 697 
			 200405 373 471 162 944 278 1,335 110 1,810 358 740 
		
	
	(19)Board estimate as full records for 200304 are not available.
	
		Full/part-time classroom and nursery assistants in voluntary grammar schools
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB 
			  Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 200203 16 11 11 9 23 8 15 8 13 2 
			 200304 18 13 12 11 25 8 17 10 18 2 
			 200405 20 17 15 20 27 14 13 24 16 8 
		
	
	
		Full/part time classroom and nursery assistants in grant maintained integrated schools
		
			  BELB NEELB SEELB SELB WELB 
			  Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 200203 13 16 15 22 25 26 33 20 28 21 
			 200304 20 24 16 29 28 35 36 26 31 22 
			 200405 31 16 23 32 38 52 32 34 40 34 
		
	
	The information prior to 200203 in respect of voluntary grammar schools and grant maintained schools is not readily available.

Co-ownership Homes

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses have been built under the co-ownership scheme in the Province in the last three years; what the uptake of co-ownership homes was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association, which administers the co-ownership scheme in Northern Ireland, does not build houses.
	The table below shows the uptake of the co-ownership scheme in the last 3 years.
	
		
			  First time buyers assisted to buy homes 
		
		
			 200203 801 
			 200304 463 
			 200405 502

Credit Card Fraud

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the cost of credit card fraud involving identity fraud in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The PSNI have provided the following figures. These are an estimate of criminal benefit obtained as a result of deception offences involving credit cards reported to the police. I am advised that this equates closely to credit card fraud involving identity fraud.
	I am assured that the PSNI Cheque and Credit Card Unit is working closely with all relevant agencies and is involved in a number of different initiatives in an effort to combat credit card fraud. All reported instances of fraud are fully investigated and offenders made amenable to the courts.
	
		
			  Number of investigations Criminal benefit () 
		
		
			 2002 626 1,279,286 
			 2003 597 330,774 
			 2004 551 281,512 
			 2005 (to date) 362 413,489 
			 Total  2,305,061 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Records are not available prior to 2002.
	2.These figures are based on incidents reported to the police. The true figure could be significantly higher as much of this type of crime is not reported directly to the police, but rather financial institutions such as banks.

Dementia (Personal Care)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce free personal and nursing care for those with dementia in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: I refer the hon. Lady to my answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 859W.

Disability Discrimination Act

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of public services in Northern Ireland with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Angela Smith: While no assessment has been made of the compliance of public services in Northern Ireland with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), and nor is there any legislative requirement to do so, Government are fully committed to complying with all the requirements of the DDA. To this end, in relation to the access duties of the DDA, Accessibility Audits have been carried out on 168 of the 205 buildings within the Northern Ireland Civic Service Estate. Four buildings are still to be audited and the remaining 33 buildings do not require to be audited or to have adjustments made at this time because there is no public interface, no disabled member of staff or for operational reasons. All sites are kept under review and changes made if necessary.
	Public service providers must ensure they are meeting their duties under the Act and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland can provide detailed advice and information on meeting these requirements. In its publication Code of Practice, Rights of AccessGoods, Facilities, Services and Premises the Commission recommends, as good practice, that service providers themselves consider certain steps to ensure compliance with the DDA. These include regularly reviewing whether their services are accessible to disabled people and consulting disabled customers, disabled staff and disability organisations about the accessibility of their services.

Education Action Zones

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  when education action zones will be set up in Northern Ireland; and in which areas;
	(2)  what funding will be available in education action zones in Northern Ireland; and from which sources.

Angela Smith: Each education and library board has been invited to work up education action zone proposals. The Department anticipates that each board will have at least one zone operating in its area and that zones will begin to come on stream early in the 200506 school year.
	Some 6 million is expected to be made available by the Department over the next three financial years for the implementation of the education action zone initiative across Northern Ireland. Education and Library Boards have also been encouraged to seek and secure inter-agency support both in kind and in funding.

EWAY Rapid Transport Scheme

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on progress on plans to introduce the EWAY Rapid Transport Scheme into Strangford and East Belfast.

Shaun Woodward: The pilot rapid transit scheme known as EWAY is included in the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan 2015, which was published in November 2004. This is a large, complex and expensive scheme and as with all such schemes, it is dependent on funding being available and is subject to a range of evaluation and statutory processes. Due to other higher priorities at present, it has not been possible to provide funding for EWAY in the Budget period to end 2008. The affordability of the scheme will however be kept under review in future budget rounds.

Exceptional Closure Days (Schools)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria are used by Education and Library Boards in Northern Ireland when deciding whether to grant additional exceptional closure days for schools.

Angela Smith: The Department of Education determines the criteria for exceptional closure days in schools. The approval of such closures is only agreed in exceptional circumstances, where the closing of a school is outside the control of the school authority e.g. the death of a pupil at the school, flooding or burst pipes, electricity failure, terrorist incident etc.

Executive Programme Funds

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been allocated under each of the Executive Programme Funds in each year since their creation; and on what projects and programmes.

Angela Smith: The amounts allocated from each of the Executive Programme Funds since their creation is shown in the following table. Details of the underlying projects funded through these allocations have been placed in the Library.
	
		Executive Programme Fund allocations
		
			 Fund 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 Total 
		
		
			 Children's 2.9 6.3 17.2 6.0 5.9 38.3 
			 Innovation/Modernisation 0.0 11.7 53.8 75.8 94.2 235.5 
			 Infrastructure 9.1 29.0 41.2 0.0 0.0 79.3 
			 New Directions 7.2 25.0 36.4 0.0 0.0 68.6 
			 Service Modernisation 6.6 8.4 7.4 0.0 0.0 22.4 
			 Social Inclusion/Community Regeneration 7.4 21.1 38.9 1.7 0.0 69.3 
			 Total allocations 33.2 101.5 194.9 83.6 100.1 513.3

Free School Meals

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school children in each Education and Library Board area receive free school meals.

Angela Smith: At October 2004, the number of pupils entitled to free school meals, and the uptake in each Education and Library Board was as follows:
	
		
			  Entitlement Uptake 
		
		
			 BELB 16,257 12,960 
			 NEELB 10,471 8,213 
			 SEELB 9,331 6,771 
			 SELB 14,264 11,732 
			 WELB 15,873 13,894 
			 Total 66,196 53,570 
		
	
	Note:
	The details exclude pupils in special schools which are not available.
	Education and Library Boards have been required this year to set targets for increasing the numbers of pupils who take up their entitlement to free school meals.

Free Travel

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce free rail and bus travel for those with a disability in Northern Ireland; and what discussions he has had with Translink about this matter.

Shaun Woodward: Blind people and war pensioners already receive free travel and other groups of people with disabilities are entitled to half fare travel. The Department has no plans to extend the provision of free fares or has the issue been discussed with Translink.

Free Travel

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to introduce free fares on public transport for everyone aged 60 years and over.

Shaun Woodward: The Department has no plans to extend the terms of the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme to include free travel on public transport for those aged 60 to 64. Those aged 65 and over already receive free travel.

Hospital Services Access

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether British passport holders who are not registered with a general practitioner are able to access services at hospitals in the Province.

Shaun Woodward: A person's ability to access hospital services in Northern Ireland is not dependent upon their being registered with a general practitioner or being a British passport holder. Those persons deemed ordinarily resident and visitors from European Economic Area or from a number of countries with reciprocal health care agreements can receive those services free at the point of delivery. Possession of a British passport does not automatically confer ordinarily resident status, for example, in cases where a former UK resident has been working outside of the country for more than five years.

Internet

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of households in the Province he estimates have had access to the internet in each of the last 10 years.

Angela Smith: As part of its ongoing digital inclusion activities, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has commissioned surveys from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on an annual basis since 2002 in order to determine access and usage of information computer technology (ICT), including internet, by members of the public.
	While the survey does not specify the number of actual households with internet access, the figures do indicate the percentage of the population aged 16 or over in Northern Ireland with access to an internet-enabled personal computer. These figures, which are available from 2002 only, have shown an increase in access year-on-year, and are as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage of population aged 16+ with access to internet PC 
		
		
			 2002 47 
			 2003 55 
			 2004 58 
			 2005 60 
		
	
	In addition, there are currently an estimated 150,000 broadband accounts in Northern Ireland. Broadband availability is presently at 98.5 per cent., up from 60 per cent. in March 2004.
	As a result of the Broadband Services Contract awarded to BT by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment there will be 100 per cent. broadband availability for all households and businesses in Northern Ireland by the end of December 2005.
	The Northern Ireland eGovernment Unit continues to encourage public access to and uptake of ICT through participation in a Digital Inclusion Steering Group and through a range of developmental projects such as the home computer initiative, Citizen eMail and a digital mapping facility, which will provide a resource identifying public internet access points across Northern Ireland. In addition, and in collaboration with, Ofcom, the BBC, EGSA and representative companies from the private sector the Northern Ireland eGovernment Unit is working on a project to put an internet literacy CD into every household throughout Northern Ireland.
	Wider public sector programmes aimed at increasing access include the Electronic Libraries project that now offers free internet access throughout every public library in Northern Ireland and the C2K Classroom 2000 initiative providing internet-enabled PCs to every school in Northern Ireland.
	These projects are in line with efforts currently being undertaken in England and in the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales.

Literacy Levels

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of literacy levels among 11-year-olds in each of the Education and Library Board areas in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: There is an improving trend across all board areas as measured by the end of Key Stage 2 assessment outcomes although there are still some schools where performance is below the level expected and where support and special interventions have been put in place.
	
		Percentage pupils achieving expected level at KS2 (L4 and above)
		
			  200102(20) 200203 200304(21) 
		
		
			 BELB 65.1 66.0 n/a 
			 WELB 72.8 75.6 n/a 
			 NEELB 77.1 77.3 n/a 
			 SEELB 75.8 78.1 n/a 
			 SELB 76.8 78.7 n/a 
			 NI average 73.9 75.6 n/a 
		
	
	(20)Due to industrial action, NI KS2 results for 200102 are incomplete.
	(21)Due to industrial action, NI KS2 results are not available for 200304

Local Election (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the draft Local Election (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005, tabled on 9 June was withdrawn on 16 June; what the (a) substantive and (b) other differences between the order withdrawn and the new one tabled on 16 June were; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The effect of the new order tabled on 16 June was to add an or before civil partner in Article 4(1)(a) . Due to a typographical error the or had failed to be included in the original order tabled on 9 June.
	Article 4(1)(a) of the order as laid on 9 June read:
	(a) in paragraph 1(2)(c) after spouse, insert civil partner;'
	Article 4(1)(a) of the order laid on 16 June reads:
	(a) in paragraph 1(2)(c) after spouse insert or civil partner;'.

Motor Tax and Insurance

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted for driving without (a) tax and (b) insurance in Northern Ireland in each of the past three years.

Shaun Woodward: The figures requested are provided as follows:
	(a) Tax
	Those detected for vehicle excise duty offences are usually offered an out-of-court settlement. Only if they ignore the penalty or refuse to pay are they prosecuted in court. The figures for those prosecuted or who paid out-of-court settlements in the last three years are:
	
		
			  Number of prosecutions or out-of-court settlements 
		
		
			 200203 13,932 
			 200304 10,876 
			 200405 8,796 
		
	
	Note:
	Of the 33,604 cases actioned over the last three years 84 per cent. resulted in out-of-court settlements and 16 per cent. were prosecuted through the courts.
	(b) Insurance
	The table provides details of prosecutions for driving without insurance.
	
		
			  Prosecutions for driving without a licence 
		
		
			 2000 2,744 
			 2001 3,638 
			 2002 4,508 
			 2003 3,992 
		
	
	Note:
	Statistics have been provided for 200003, with the latter being the most up-to-date available. Due to a backlog of court proceedings data, a new and finalised 2003 dataset has recently been produced and therefore figures for 2003 used previously may differ from those in this response.

Parades

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total expense incurred in policing the (a) 2005 and (b) 2004 Tour of the North Orange march in Belfast was.

Shaun Woodward: The route followed by the Tour of the North Parade changes on alternate years, resulting in different deployments. Approximate costs, based on police deployed and catering provided are as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 2004 64,390 
			 2005 74,533

Parades

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable is in possession of a legal opinion relating to the status of 11/1 application forms submitted by Orange Lodges to the Parades Commission with more than one signature in the required box.

Shaun Woodward: The Chief Constable is in receipt of a legal opinion concerning the issue of notification of parades using form 11/1 (application to parade). This advice is subject to legal privilege.

Pensioners

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pensioners in Strangford constituency are in receipt of disability living allowance, broken down by (a) care and (b) mobility components.

David Hanson: The information requested is shown in the following table for February 2005.
	
		
			 Component Number of pensioners 
		
		
			 Care only 230 
			 Mobility only 388 
			 Care and mobility 1,709 
			 Strangford total 2,327 
		
	
	Additional information on combined Care and Mobility awards is provided to avoid double counting.

PFI/PPP

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public finance initiative and public-private partnership projects arrangements involving Jarvis plc are in place in (a) the NHS and (b) the Department of Education in the Province; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: No public finance initiative or public-private partnership projects involving Jarvis are in place in the Health and Personal Social Services or the Department of Education in Northern Ireland.

Police

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the estimated annual running costs are of the recently acquired helicopter for use by the police in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland will shortly bring a helicopter into full operational service following a period of trials. This will be used to assist officers in reducing crime and improving community safety.
	Total running costs for the first year are estimated to be 686,565.

Police

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many typist manager's posts there are in each Police Service Northern Ireland District Command area; and how many posts are expected to be required in future.

Shaun Woodward: The Police Service of Northern Ireland recently conducted a review of typing services within the organisation. The review was necessary to reflect the reality in recent years of the reduction in police officer numbers overall and the significant investment in information technology.
	As a result of that review all typing manager posts were disestablished, and no typing manager posts currently exist in any District Command Unit.
	The issue of redundancy does not arise as the PSNI is taking a number of steps to re-deploy the surplus typists, including those who previously fulfilled the role of typing manager.

Police

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to ensure that the police station in Castle Rock is retained.

Shaun Woodward: The issue of station closures is addressed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Estate Strategy Review. The Chief Constable and Policing Board continue to work closely on this matter.
	Before the Police Service of Northern Ireland make a submission to the Policing Board to close a particular station, they undertake a consultation process with the relevant District Policing Partnership.
	This will be the case with Castlerock PSNI station as with any other which the Police Service propose to close.

Public Land Disposal

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to dispose of public land (a) on the Stormont estate in Belfast and (b) elsewhere in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: It is not possible to provide details of all plans to dispose of public lands in Northern Ireland. However in the case of the Northern Ireland Civil Service office estate (i.e. properties held by the Department of Finance and Personnel) the Government are currently considering proposals to transfer ownership of a number of Government office buildings to the private sector as part of a major programme of transformation and rationalisation. The proposals include some properties at the south eastern corner of the Stormont estate. This particular aspect will be subject to public consultation in the autumn.
	Parliament Buildings, Stormont Castle, Stormont House and the surrounding parkland are specifically excluded from the plans.

Safety Cameras

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many speed cameras there are in the North Belfast area; and how much money has been raised in fines from each of them since their installation.

Shaun Woodward: There is one fixed road safety camera in North Belfast DCU, which is located on the Antrim Road. The camera has made a total of 2,352 detections for speeding since it was installed on 1 July 2003, generating a total of 141,120 in fine revenue.

Schools (Integrated Status)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schools in Northern Ireland (a) applied for and (b) were granted integrated status in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The position with regard to proposals for new integrated schools in the past five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 2005 1 application for transformation of existing schoolApproved 
			 2004 No applications 
			 2003 5 applications for new schools4 approved and 1 turned down (which had also applied in 2002) 
			  2 applications for transformation of existing schoolsBoth approved 
			 2002 2 applications for new schools1 approved and 1 turned down 
			  2 applications for transformation of existing schoolsBoth approved 
			 2001 1 application for a new schoolApproved

Translink Metro

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to extend the Translink Metro system to other parts of Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The Metro system is confined to the Greater Belfast area. However, Translink has recently announced the start of strategic reviews of its Ulsterbus district and schools networks, consistent with the objectives of the Regional Transportation Strategy. The intentions of the reviews are to provide attractive and more frequent core services to encourage passenger growth and to maximise the use of available resources to improve public transport accessibility in the cities, towns and rural areas outside Belfast. The review programme is expected to take up to three years to design and implement.

Young Offenders

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of young offenders in Northern Ireland who had (a) alcohol and (b) drug abuse problems in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: In the 12 months to May 2005, 359 young offenders committed to Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Prison declared a dependency on alcohol and 468 inmates a dependency/misuse of drugs. 58 inmates did not declare a dependency on either alcohol or drugs.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Confiscation Orders

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many confiscation orders have been refused by the Crown courts in each police authority area since they were introduced; and what the total value was.

Harriet Harman: During the year ending 31 March 2005, 2503 confiscation orders were made in the Crown court. The number of occasions on which the Crown court considered making an order but was unable to make one is not known.

County Court Judgments

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the admissibility of post office box addresses in applications for county court judgments.

Harriet Harman: No formal assessment has been made of the implications of using post office box addresses, but it would be unlikely to provide the degree of certainty of service necessary for legal process. A party must therefore give either his solicitor's business address or his own residence or place of business as his address for service.

Court Ushers

David Kidney: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will undertake a consultation on a code of practice for coroners courts on services for court ushers, with particular reference to bereaved relatives.

Harriet Harman: We plan to issue a White Paper and a draft coroner and death certification Bill during the first parliamentary session. Meanwhile as the charter takes effect, the Department is supporting a range of local initiatives aimed at improving the quality of support, and opportunity for participation, provided to bereaved people who currently have contact with the coroner system.

Criminal Cases

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reduce the cost of large criminal cases.

Bridget Prentice: We intend to set out our vision for the future of legal aid, outlining the Department's long-term strategy for reform, including work to control high cost criminal cases, and summarising the key findings of the Fundamental Legal Aid Review, in due course. In addition the Legal Services Commission has made a number of detailed reforms to the way it purchases services in high cost cases, including the introduction of individual case contracts to control expenditure.

Departmental Relocation

Roger Gale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many of her Department's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East.

Bridget Prentice: My Department is implementing the Lyons Review recommendations to relocate 200 posts out of London and the South East by 2010. This will not exclude consideration of relocating some posts to relatively deprived areas in the South East. So far my Department has not identified any posts suitable for transfer to deprived areas in the South East.

Entry Clearance Appeals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals against the refusal of entry clearance to the UK have (a) been submitted, (b) been acknowledged to the applicant and (c) received an appeal date since 4th April.

Bridget Prentice: Following the recent commencement of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 4 April 2005, and the required changes to its electronic records database, the information requested is not currently available, and could not be produced without incurring disproportionate costs. The AIT aims to process all appeal receipts arising from a refusal of entry clearance decision within five business days. Notification of the appeal's receipt will be forwarded to the appeal parties as soon as is practicable thereafter.

Entry Clearance Appeals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many appeals against the refusal of entry clearance to (a) the Immigration Appellate Authority and (b) the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, (i) were submitted, (ii) were acknowledged to the applicant and (iii) received an appeal date in each year since 1995.

Bridget Prentice: Following the recent commencement of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 4 April 2005, and the changes required to its electronic records database, the information requested is not currently available and could not be produced without incurring disproportionate costs. Prior to the AIT, the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA), and the Immigration Appeals Tribunal (IAT) did not differentiate between different categories of immigration appeal. The available data for the IAA and the IAT, for the calendar years 1997 to 2004, show the number of immigration appeals received, and decided, as follows:
	
		
			  IAA appeal receipts IAA appeal decisions IAT appeal receipts IAT appeal decisions 
		
		
			 1997 11,540 13,800 1,773 1,079 
			 1998 7,290 12,795 557 752 
			 1999 8,343 9,139 733 829 
			 2000 6,149 7,672 401 931 
			 2001 10,378 9,114 427 545 
			 2002 12,024 12,762 598 799 
			 2003 14,637 12,411 871 808 
			 2004 31,404 30,539 1,317 754

Entry Clearance Appeals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cases of appeals against the refusal of entry clearance to the UK made in 1995 remain to be concluded.

Bridget Prentice: Following the recent commencement of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) on 4 April 2005, and the required changes to its electronic records database, the information requested is not currently available, and could not be produced without incurring disproportionate costs.

Entry Clearance Appeals

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the Department's current estimate is of the average length of time an applicant appealing against the refusal of entry clearance to the UK waits for (a) a date for an appeal hearing and (b) an appeal hearing.

Bridget Prentice: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) aims initially to process all out-of-country immigration appeal receipts within five business days. Where such an appeal arises from a refusal of entry clearance, served prior to 4 April 2005, the appeal is listed for a hearing date approximately six weeks from the AIT taking receipt of the appeal.
	Where the appeal arises from a refusal of entry clearance, served on the appellant on or after 4 April 2005, the AIT notifies receipt of the appeal to the parties within five business days. The AIT will list these appeals for a hearing date once it has taken receipt of the respondent's bundle of appeal documents. The appeal is then listed for a hearing date four to six weeks from receipt of the bundle.
	Due to recent changes to the AIT electronic database, as part of its implementation, the average time to a hearing is not currently available and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's birthday honours list; and at what rank of honour.

Harriet Harman: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of solicitors' firms ceased performance of their criminal legal aid contracts before the expiry of the contract's term.

Bridget Prentice: There are 2,648 current contracts for criminal defence services.
	490 of these contracts are for work in London having being issued on 31 July 2004, and are due to expire on 31 December 2005.
	2,159 contracts were issued for work outside London on 31 July 2004, and are due to expire on 31 March 2007.
	Of the 2,648 active national contracts, 3.9 per cent. (104 contracts) were terminated before the expiry of the contracts' term.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what checks have been undertaken to ensure that the criminal legal aid budget is sufficient to meet human rights requirements.

Bridget Prentice: We constantly review our forecasts for both civil and criminal legal aid and take any action necessary to fully fund all those cases which require legal aid from within the Department's Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL). No individual who satisfied the interests of justice test could be denied legal aid.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to increase the criminal legal aid budget.

Bridget Prentice: The resource expenditure for the Criminal Defence Service (CDS) for 200405 was 1.151 billion (subject to end of year audit). The projected expenditure for 200506 is 1.211 billion.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many law firms competed for each civil legal aid contract, on average, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Bridget Prentice: There are no competitive tendering for civil legal aid contracts. In the most recent bid round in 2003, approximately 90 per cent. of existing contracted solicitors re-bid for their contract, with the other 10 per cent. being let to solicitors firms moving into new categories of law or who were new to legal aid and not-for-profit agencies.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the progress of competitive tendering for civil legal aid contracts.

Bridget Prentice: We do not have any plans to introduce competitive tendering for civil legal aid contracts.

Legal Aid/Salaries

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate she has made of the average salary of (a) a barrister in first tenancy, (b) a one-year qualified barrister, (c) a trainee solicitor, (d) a newly-qualified solicitor and (e) a one-year qualified solicitor conducting criminal legal aid work in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region.

Bridget Prentice: The Bar Council does not hold information centrally about the earnings of barristers in their first tenancy or those who have been qualified for one year. This information is difficult to collect since barristers are not salaried, they are self-employed and their earnings will depend on where they work and the work they carry out. Many junior barristers will have a varied caseload that can include civil and criminal work. The Bar is considering the possibility of collecting such data.
	The Law Society has provided some information about the average earnings of solicitors generally. Figures for average salaries earned from criminal work are not collated separately. In 2004, the average salary of a solicitor in the first year of their training contract was 20,013 and the average salary for newly qualified solicitors was 32,139. The figure of 32,139 is however based on a survey with small sample sizes. Solicitors' earnings are generally dependent on the grade they operate at, the size and location of the firm.
	There is a minimum starting salary for trainee solicitors recommended by the Council of the Law Society. The 2004 minimum figure is set at 15,900 for Central London and 14,200 for Outer London and the rest of England and Wales.

Short Money

David Drew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what accountability mechanisms there are to scrutinise the spending of Short money.

Geoff Hoon: I have been asked to reply.
	Short money is governed by the Resolution of the House of Commons of 26 May 1999.
	Each opposition party which receives Short money is required to submit a certificate from an independent professional auditor within nine months of the year end confirming that all the expenses for which the party received financial assistance under the terms of the Resolution were incurred exclusively in connection with the party's parliamentary business.
	If the certificate is not received within the time specified no further financial assistance is paid until such a certificate is so furnished.
	Guidance for completion of the certificate is provided by the House administration and the form of the certificate has been agreed with the National Audit Office.

HEALTH

Abortion

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will propose the setting up of a joint committee of both Houses to consider the scientific, medical and social changes in relation to abortion as recommended by the Science and Technology Committee in its March Report on Human Reproductive Technologies and the Law.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 413W.

Alliance Medical Ltd.

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the contracts awarded to Alliance Medical to provide services for the NHS.

Liam Byrne: The Department entered into a single contract with Alliance Medical Limited (AML) to provide magnetic resonance imaging screening to the national health service through state of the art mobile units. Details of any other contracts with AML agreed by local NHS commissioners are not collected centrally.

Ambulances

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to health service trusts on the operational life of ambulances.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 June 2005
	The Department has not issued guidance on the operational life of ambulances, as it is a matter for each trust.

Anaemia

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people have suffered from cancer-treatment induced anaemia in England over the last three years;
	(2)  how many cancer patients in England are receiving erythropoietin;
	(3)  how many cancer centres prescribe erythropoietin;
	(4)  if she will meet leading clinicians to discuss the use of erythropoietin in the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The Department does not collect information on the number of cancer patients with cancer treatment induced anaemia; the number of cancer patients who receive erythropoietin or the number of cancer centres prescribing erythropoietin.
	Erythropoietin (alpha and beta) and darbopoetin for the treatment of cancer treatment induced anaemia have been referred to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal. Guidance is expected to be published at the end of this year. It would be better to wait until that guidance is available before considering setting up a meeting.

Anti-arthritis drugs

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to ensure that health care services in Shropshire receive the funding required to ensure equality of access to anti-arthritis drugs on a geographical basis.

Rosie Winterton: Funding is allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each PCT's target share of available resources to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need. The components of the formula are used to weight each PCT's crude population according to their relative need (age, and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (market forces factor).
	It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.

Anti-depressants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions there have been for anti-depressants in England in each year since 1991, broken down by type, including fluoxetine.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of prescription items of anti-depressants that have been dispensed in the community in England in each year since 1991 has been placed in the Library.

Audiology Services

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people in England are waiting (a) to be assessed for and (b) fitted with an NHS hearing aid for the first time;
	(2)  how many people in England are using NHS analogue hearing aids; and what information she has collated on the numbers who would benefit from switching to digital hearing aids.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally.

Back and Joint Problems (Nurses)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collect centrally information relating to the number and percentage of nurses in each primary care trust area in each year who (a) report personal back and joint injuries and (b) retire as a result of back or joint problems.

Liam Byrne: The Government are committed to reducing the burden of information requirements on the national health service. Information is collected centrally to support key policies and monitor national targets as set out in the NHS Plan and subsequent documents. It is for local NHS trusts to monitor the ill health of their staff.

Bedside Bibles

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports she has received of complaints to hospitals about Bibles in wards.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not collect any central information regarding reports about complaints to hospitals about Bibles in wards.

Cancer Services/Treatment

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to improve the pre-diagnostic infrastructure for breast cancer.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 June 2005
	People who live in deprived areas are less likely to attend for screening for breast cancer. Including cultural and religious reasons, women from minority ethnic groups are less likely to accept invitations for screening than the general population as a whole. Language and access to information can be a significant barrier and can affect the coverage levels.
	A number of steps have been taken to improve this situation:
	The national informed choice leaflet, Breast Screening: The Facts, which is sent out with every invitation for screening, has now been translated into 18 languages.
	In December 2003, national health service cancer screening programmes published Inequalities of Access to Cancer Screening: A Literature Review. The recommendations in the review have been sent to all local screening programmes.
	A number of local actions have been put in place to combat inequalities in inner-city areas. For example, in Haringey, sessions on screening have been held in community centres, with advocates from the relevant communities attending to translate and encourage women to attend their screening appointment. Many primary care trusts are conducting similar initiatives across the country.
	In 2004, to raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, the NHS cancer screening programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes to increase coverage rates. The packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening, including posters.

Cancer Services/Treatment

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to improve participation in breast screening programmes.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 21 December 2005
	To raise awareness about the availability of breast cancer screening, in 2004 the National Health Service cancer screening programmes issued a regional communications pack to all local breast screening programmes to increase coverage rates. The packs include advice on raising the awareness of screening, including posters.

Cancer Services/Treatment

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the Government have made in reducing the difference in breast cancer survival rates between women in the most affluent areas and those in the most deprived areas.

Rosie Winterton: We are committed to reducing inequality of outcomes in all cancers. We have a commitment to reduce death rates from cancer in under-75s by at least 20 per cent. by 2010, with a reduction in the inequalities gap of at least 6 per cent. between the fifth of areas with the worst health and deprivation indicators, the spearhead primary care trusts (PCTs), and the population as a whole.
	Statistics for women diagnosed between 1996 to 1999 showed that five year survival rates for women with breast cancer in the most affluent areas were 5.8 per cent. higher than those in the most deprived areas.
	It is not clear precisely why survival rates vary. However, women in more deprived areas are more likely to have advanced breast cancer at the point of diagnosis. Work is under development to encourage people, especially in less affluent areas, to seek help from their general practitioner earlier. We will be piloting programmes in some spearhead PCTs, looking at knowledge and attitudes towards cancer, as well as working with the voluntary sector to learn from previous awareness-raising campaigns.

Cancer Services/Treatment

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority received ministerial authority to start the Specialist Cancer Services Review.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2005
	In line with the Department's Shifting the Balance of Power initiative, the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority is not required to seek ministerial approval prior to undertaking a service review.

Cancer Services/Treatment

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of the Sussex cancer network in relation to cancer treatment waiting times.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 June 2005
	Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority, the local headquarters of the national health service, advises that primary care trusts (PCTs) in Sussex continue to work with relevant acute trusts to reduce waiting times for East Sussex residents. The Sussex cancer network works closely with the PCTs and acute trusts within Surrey and Sussex to ensure the delivery of high quality cancer services and reduced waiting times. The Sussex cancer network also works with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, which provides cancer treatment to some East Sussex residents.
	I understand that the strategic direction for the Sussex cancer network is laid out within its strategic plan. The strategic plan was agreed by all stakeholders of the network, including patients and carers. The strategic plan and further information on the work of the network is available on its website at www.sussexcancer.net.

Cane Hill (Coulsdon)

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for the Cane Hill site, Coulsdon.

Jane Kennedy: The Cane Hill hospital site is included in a portfolio of properties to transfer to English Partnerships (EP) as part of a wider agreement with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to support the Government's sustainable communities programme. EP and the national health service will be working together on plans for the overall redevelopment of the site, which will reflect future health service requirements.

Charing Cross Hospital (Private Treatments)

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effects on services for NHS patients of the provision made for the treatment of private patients at Charing Cross hospital.

Jane Kennedy: Hammersmith Hospitals National Health Service Trust, of which Charing Cross hospital is a part, has been providing treatment to private patients for over 20 years. Income generated from private treatment means more revenue for the trust to improve its facilities and services.

Clinical Negligence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total cost to the NHS has been from successful claims for clinical negligence in each year since 1975 in (a) nominal and (b) real terms.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles clinical negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. No accurate national data were collected on clinical negligence claims prior to the establishment of the NHSLA on 20 November 1995. Centrally collected data from the NHSLA are shown in the table.
	Reliable data on real costs are not available. It may take a number of years from notification of a claim to settlement of that claim and payments will have been made in relation to that claim throughout the full period. For example, defence costs will be paid quarterly as the claim progresses and the claimant bill will be paid at conclusion.
	
		Total payments for successful closed clinical negligence claims by year of notification to the NHSLA scheme member as at 31 March 2005(22)
		
			 Year of notification Total payments () 
		
		
			 199697 238,614,168 
			 199798 416,888,183 
			 199899 330,573,238 
			 19992000 326,812,451 
			 200001 193,803,432 
			 200102 117,742,245 
			 200203 36,609,841 
			 200304 10,539,364 
		
	
	(22)The year a claim is notified to the NHSLA has no relevance to the year payments are made with regard to that claim. It may take a number of years from notification of a claim to settlement of that claim and payments will have been made in relation to that claim over the full period.

Clinical Negligence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many claims for clinical negligence there have been against the NHS in each year since 1991 (a) in total and (b) per thousand finished consultant episodes; and what percentage of these claims were successful in each year since 1991.

Jane Kennedy: The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles clinical negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. No accurate national data was collected on clinical negligence claims prior to the establishment of the NHSLA on 20 November 1995. Data on clinical negligence claims reported to the NHSLA based upon the date reported to the NHSLA scheme member, as at 31 March 2005, are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Year of notification   Number of claims(23) Percentage of claims currently successful (percentage)(24) 
		
		
			 199697 4,136 47.63 
			 199798 6,932 52.37 
			 199899 6,916 42.29 
			 19992000 7,036 40.22 
			 200001 6,915 35.84 
			 200102 7,215 30.91 
			 200203 6,257 23.03 
			 200304 4,844 16.02 
		
	
	(23)It is not possible to provide the number of claims per thousand finished consultant episodes. The date a claim is made has no relevance to the date the incident giving rise to a claim occurred; this may be many years before. To link the number of claims reported in a particular year to the number of finished consultant episodes in that year would be open to misinterpretation.
	(24)It may take many years from the date of notification to settle a claim. The percentage of claims successful relating to a particular year will therefore increase over time as more claims are settled.

Clinical Negligence

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much compensation NHS bodies paid in respect of clinical negligence claims in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 June 2005
	The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. Data collected by the NHSLA is shown in the table.
	
		Member and NHSLA payments(25) -- 
		
			  Damages paid 
			 Scheme 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)(26) 33,983 560,503 4,007,609 9,862,486 19,433,590 244,825,189 107,204,725 205,443,691 
			 Existing liability scheme (ELS)(27) 400,000 28,445,121 46,530,738 277,809,505 559,201,647 447,350,269 225,478,739 90,106,254 
			 Former regional health authority (FRHA)(28) 639,647 14,914,310 9,588,467 6,214,126 5,927,289 3,587,722 2,495,605 1,261,673 
			 Total 1,073,630 43,919,934 60,126,814 293,886,117 584,562,526 695,763,180 335,179,068 296,811,618 
		
	
	(25)Until 1 April 2000, excess levels were in place for ELS and until 1 April 2002, excess levels were in place for CNST. NHS trusts could settle claims up to the excess amount without reference to or funding from the NHSLA. The figures include sub-excess claims where these were notified to the NHSLA.
	(26)CNST claims are those in respect of liabilities occurring on or after 1 April 1995.
	(27)ELS claims are those open at 1 April 1996, where the incident pre-dates 1 April 1995.
	(28)FRHA claims are pre-April 1996 and are cases against the former RHAs, fully funded by the NHSLA.

Clinical Negligence

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS trusts paid in respect of legal fees in clinical negligence cases in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 June 2005
	The NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) handles negligence claims made against national health service bodies in England. Data collected by the NHSLA are shown in the tables.
	
		Member and NHSLA payments(29) -- 
		
			  Defence costs paid(30) 
			 Scheme 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 Clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST)(31) 11,491 41,854 356,086 1,885,555 5,326,427 56,685,965 27,096,391 37,089,942 
			 Existing Liability scheme (ELS)(32) 4,766 3,324,022 8,789,602 50,977,551 45,764,916 54,392,279 20,879,178 14,999,981 
			 Former regional health authority (FRHA)(33) 0 2,946,002 1,894,284 721,005 627,081 585,943 275,377 223,225 
			 Total 16,258 6,311,877 11,039,973 53,584,111 51,718,423 111,664,186 48,250,946 52,313,148 
		
	
	
		
		
			  Claimant costs paid(30) 
			 Scheme 199697 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 CNST(31) 7,572 53,374 464,800 609,336 3,399,653 35,837,655 28,552,205 49,643,945 
			 ELS(32) 32,849 9,666,656 21,994,957 66,925,508 66,538,960 61,357,279 32,609,855 20,967,172 
			 FRHA(33) 0 2,593,158 2,748,432 1,507,462 768,837 1,246,830 578,499 293,793 
			 Total 40,421 12,313,188 25,208,189 69,042,306 70,707,450 98,441,765 61,740,559 70,904,911 
		
	
	(29)Until 1 April, 2000 excess levels were in place for ELS and until 1 April 2002, excess levels were in place for CNST. NHS trusts could settle claims up to the excess amount without reference or funding from the NHSLA. The figures include sub-excess claims where these were notified to the NHSLA.
	(30)Defence costs are accrued quarterly as claims progress whereas claimant bills are paid at conclusion. Therefore, the levels incurred for defence and claimant costs each year are not directly comparable.
	(31)CNST claims are those in respect of liabilities occurring on or after 1 April 1995.
	(32)ELS claims are those open at 1 April 1996, where the incident pre-dates 1 April 1995.
	(33)FRHA claims are pre-April 1996 and are cases against the former RHAs, fully funded by the NHSLA.

Care Homes

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the Department's review of national minimum standards for care homes.

Liam Byrne: The Department plans to complete the review of the national minimum standards in 2006. The results will be published after that.

Clinical Trials Directive

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive on the viability of future UK research projects.

Jane Kennedy: The Government aim to build on the United Kingdom's reputation as an excellent place for clinical research. With partners, it established the UK clinical research collaboration (UKCRC) to co-ordinate major new investment in clinical research infrastructure. The UKCRC includes Government and other public funders of research, as well as industry and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	It is too soon to assess the effect of the European Clinical Trials Directive. The Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 (SI 2004 No. 1031) came into force on 1 May 2004. They implemented Directive 2001/20/EC in the UK. That Directive required the Commission to publish detailed guidelines on good clinical practice The Commission published a Good Clinical Practice Directive (2005/28/EC) in April2005. Member states are required to implement it by January 2006. The Commission has yet to publish related guidelines for non-commercial trials.
	The Government are committed to make an assessment as soon as reliable evidence is available. The MHRA acts as the licensing authority for all clinical trials within the scope of the Directive. It has asked the UKCRC to review the evidence to date, consider how to reduce any adverse regulatory impact and agree plans for long-term monitoring. Cancer Research UK and the national clinical research network have undertaken initial assessments of opinion about the effect of the Directive on cancer clinical trials across the UK. Other assessments are being carried out at the European level with the Federation of European Cancer Societies. The UKCRC core team has agreed to bring together findings from these and other studies.
	The Government welcome the important contributions that Cancer Research UK and other stakeholders are making in monitoring the implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive, and will consider their findings carefully.

Clostridium Difficile

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether (a) the Health Protection Agency and (b) her Department have been informed of cases of Clostridium difficile 027 at hospitals in England other than Stoke Mandeville.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Cases of Clostridium difficile 027 have occurred in Preston, Birmingham, Winchester, Bristol, Romford, Southampton, Truro, Carshalton, High Wycombe, South Tyneside, Newcastle, South Tees, Sunderland, Stoke Mandeville and Exeter. As of 16 June 2005, 75 isolates of Clostridium difficile 027 had been received by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory in Cardiff, being reported to the Health Protection Agency and the Department.

Clostridium Difficile

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether her Department plans to issue guidance to NHS hospital trusts on the typing of samples from cases of Clostridium difficile in order to measure the incidence of Clostridium difficile 027;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the laboratory capacity available to the NHS to type samples from cases of Clostridium difficile;
	(3)  how many laboratories are available to the NHS to type samples from cases of Clostridium difficile.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	The Health Protection Agency (HPA) have issued guidance to the national health service on the collection of Clostridium difficile samples, as part of the mandatory surveillance of Clostridium difficile infection. Typing of Clostridium difficile 027 is conducted by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory in Cardiff, which has one the largest collection of Clostridium difficile isolates in the world and has also developed this typing scheme. Other NHS laboratories do not have the specialist expertise required.

Clostridium Difficile

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire;
	(2)  what research her Department has commissioned regarding the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital, Buckinghamshire.

Jane Kennedy: It was announced last week that there would be an independent inquiry into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Officials are speaking to the Healthcare Commission about the possible terms of reference and scope for an investigation. Research needs may arise from this inquiry but the first priority remains to ensure that the outbreak at Stoke Mandeville hospital is under control and this process will include epidemiological and laboratory analyses.

Colindale Hospital (Staff Housing)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make an assessment of the requirement for (a) key worker housing for NHS staff and (b) affordable housing before deciding on (i) the basis for marketing and (ii) the actual sale of the Colindale hospital site once it is surplus to NHS requirements; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: This is a local matter. The land at Colindale hospital is held by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health National Health Service Trust.
	Of the 724 dwellings, 37 per cent. are proposed to be affordable or key worker accommodation representing 49 per cent. of the total number of habitable rooms. The Greater London authority has been consulted and has expressed support due to the affordable and key worker accommodation comprising predominantly family accommodation. The trust is satisfied that this is sufficient to meet their accommodation needs.

Cumberland Infirmary

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what action she proposes to take to tackle hygiene failings at the Cumberland Infirmary identified in the recent Patient and Public Forum report;
	(2)  which of the conclusions of the Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary she (a) accepts and (b) does not accept;
	(3)  what action she plans to take following the recent Patient and Public Forum investigation into the Cumberland Infirmary.

Liam Byrne: This is a matter for the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust to whom the recent patient and public involvement forum Bug Watch report was submitted. Trusts have a duty to respond to the reports of patient and public involvement forums setting out what action they will take to respond to the recommendations that have been made.

Dementia

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential care places are available in each strategic health authority for people with early onset dementia.

Liam Byrne: Data are not available in the form requested. However, information on the number of residential care places for adults with mental health problems aged 18 and over at 31 March 2001 is shown in the table by strategic health authority.
	I understand from the Chair of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that figures for later years were collected by the National Care Standards Commission, and now CSCI, but comparable details are not available.
	
		Number of residential care places for people with mental health problems by age and strategic health authority at 31 March 2001
		
			 Strategic health authority People with mental health problems aged 18 to 64 People with mental health problems aged 65 and over Total 
		
		
			 England 16,770 23,320 40,100 
			 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 400 1,080 1,480 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 340 860 1,200 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 520 1,120 1,640 
			 Greater Manchester 900 400 1,300 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 780 880 1,660 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 700 4,950 5,650 
			 West Yorkshire 510 970 1,480 
			 South Yorkshire 430 1,210 1,640 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 180 400 570 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 720 320 1,040 
			 West Midlands South 220 320 540 
			 Thames Valley 260 200 460 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 890 510 1,400 
			 Kent and Medway 840 1,180 2,020 
			 Surrey and Sussex 1,230 2,580 3,810 
			 Trent 710 450 1,160 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 610 340 940 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 570 1,340 1,910 
			 South West Peninsula 910 740 1,650 
			 Dorset and Somerset 360 660 1,030 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 710 680 1,390 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 300 220 520 
			 Essex 450 80 530 
			 North West London 490 110 590 
			 North Central London 950 340 1,280 
			 North East London 570 180 750 
			 South East London 660 560 1,210 
			 South West London 570 670 1,240 
		
	
	Source:
	RA Form A

Dentistry

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) what assessment she has made of the correlation between dental health in five-year-olds and their social-economic grouping, broken down by county in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what role fluoridation of water plays in improving dental health; and whether the Government plans to review the level of fluoridation in tap water.

Rosie Winterton: National dental health surveys are carried out every 10 years; the latest survey is for the year 2003. Results and comparisons with the results of the 1993 survey are available on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website at www.statistics.gov.uk/children/dentalhealth/. Results are not available for areas as small as counties because of the small sample size, but regional results for five-year-old children are given in tables 1.5 and 1.6 for the proportion of children with obvious decay experience and for the mean number of teeth with obvious decay experience.
	A separate report on this survey has been prepared on social factors and oral health in children, which analyses the United Kingdom figures. This is also available on the ONS website. The report includes analyses of tooth decay by an assessment of deprivation of the school together with analyses by socio-economic status of the household.
	The findings of these surveys confirm that there is a strong correlation between dental disease and social and economic deprivation, which we are addressing in connection with implementation of the Government's commitment to reduce health inequalities. The fluoridation of water offers the best prospect for reducing inequalities in oral health. Changes made in the Water Act 2003 to the legislative framework governing fluoridation have made it a realistic option for strategic health authorities to consider for improving the oral health of their populations.

Dentistry

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of dental practices in Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust were able to offer an emergency dental appointment within 24 hours in the latest period for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: Hertfordshire Partnership National Health Service Trust is a mental health trust and therefore does not offer any dental services. The Department collects data about dental practices based on primary care trust areas and does not identify individual dental practices.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria her Department has advised primary care trusts to apply for the approval of growth funding to Personal Dental Service applicants.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 13 June 2005
	The Department has provided primary care trusts (PCTs) with guidance on the criteria they need to apply in considering proposals for pilot personal dental services (PDS). Guidance has been set out in a step-by-step guide to PDS and augmented with training sessions provided by the Department's national PDS team.
	The key elements or criteria of this guidance are:
	Each proposal for PDS should be considered in the context of the PCTs assessment of the oral health needs of their population and the level and range of dental services necessary to serve those needs satisfactorily. The assessment of needs and the actions necessary to serve them would usually be set out in the form of a local action plan, agreed with the relevant strategic health authority.
	The prime aim of each proposal should be to at least preserve the current level of commitment to the NHS and wherever possible secure additional national health service provision in line with the requirements, which have been identified locally.
	The actual level of growth funding appropriate to each PDS application needs to match the NHS provision being proposed and to be affordable within the budget allocated to the PCT for this purpose.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she plans to conduct a new dental clinical academic staff vacancies survey; how much of the funding for dental schools has been allocated for the creation of more clinical academic posts; and what joint action her Department and the Department for Education and Skills are planning concerning recruitment and retention of dental academic staff.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 13 June 2005
	On 6 June the Council of the Heads of Medical Schools and the Council of Heads and Deans of Dental Schools published a joint survey, which shows that there remain vacancies in clinical academic posts. We are embarking upon the biggest programme of investment in dental education since the inception of the national health service. Additional recurring funding rising to 29 million by 201011 has been allocated to provide for 170 additional undergraduate training places from October 2005. The expansion will be supported by new capital investment of 20 million in each of the four years 200506 to 200809. It will be for the dental schools to decide how to use these funds, but there is no doubt that this additional investment in the dental schools will improve the working environment and career prospects of dental academics.
	The joint Department of Health/Department of Education and Skills Strategic Learning and Research Advisory (StLaR) Group for Health and Social Care has overseen production of a human resources plan project for the educator and researcher workforce across all professions in health and social care. A project board has been established which includes representatives of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the university and service sector. The board's remit includes the identification and implementation of measures to improve all aspects of academic careers for medically and dentally-qualified researchers and educationalists.

Dentistry

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Polish dentists who have been recruited by (a) primary care trusts and (b) Methods Consulting, have subsequently returned home.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 13 June 2005
	Based on returns received from strategic health authorities at the end of April, primary care trusts have locally recruited nine dentists from Poland. The Department do not hold figures of the numbers of those dentists who have subsequently returned to Poland.
	114 dentists, recruited by Methods Consulting on behalf of the Department, have started work in England. Of these, one has subsequently returned to Poland.

Dentistry

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the average income of NHS dentists in London in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The average general dental service (GDS) gross fee per dentist in the London area since 199697 are shown in the tables.
	
		Numbers of dentists with open GDS contracts
		
			   As at end March 2005 
			 Contract health body code Contract health body name 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 5A4 Havering 85 90 98 100 105 
			 5A5 Kingston 65 69 71 72 77 
			 5A7 Bromley 145 137 140 148 147 
			 5A8 Greenwich 95 96 95 103 104 
			 5A9 Barnet 186 185 189 200 199 
			 SAT Hillingdon 106 108 111 115 119 
			 5C1 Enfield 115 117 118 128 133 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham 49 54 54 58 57 
			 5C3 City and Hackney 88 92 95 84 86 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets 72 69 66 64 74 
			 5C5 Newham 78 79 92 93 97 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching 124 126 129 129 125 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham 116 139 146 157 141 
			 5HX Ealing 198 222 225 235 194 
			 SHY Hounslow 137 150 158 161 153 
			 5K5 Brent 156 161 175 161 168 
			 5K6 Harrow 103 111 118 122 122 
			 5K7 Camden 153 157 150 164 170 
			 5K8 Islington 89 98 100 113 133 
			 5K9 Croydon 162 177 175 171 181 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea 71 82 88 87 87 
			 5LC Westminster 190 211 215 220 211 
			 5LD Lambeth 114 128 119 131 126 
			 5LE Southwark 100 95 95 99 99 
			 5LF Lewisham 105 110 105 113 117 
			 5LG Wandsworth 146 156 166 172 167 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham 98 99 105 106 104 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton 174 169 178 187 191 
			 SNA Redbridge 107 112 117 133 140 
			 5NC Waltham Forest 83 86 94 98 90 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 91 87 89 91 89 
			 Total  3,601 3,772 3,876 4,015 4,006 
		
	
	
		
			 Contract health body code Contract health body name 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 5A4 Havering 109 107 114 117 
			 5A5 Kingston 73 75 77 81 
			 5A7 Bromley 149 157 169 165 
			 5A8 Greenwich 102 104 114 111 
			 5A9 Barnet 208 212 207 205 
			 SAT Hillingdon 119 125 125 122 
			 5C1 Enfield 134 141 151 152 
			 5C2 Barking and Dagenham 57 54 56 59 
			 5C3 City and Hackney 81 80 87 85 
			 5C4 Tower Hamlets 69 78 89 92 
			 5C5 Newham 91 92 98 95 
			 5C9 Haringey Teaching 124 134 146 144 
			 5H1 Hammersmith and Fulham 156 140 146 148 
			 5HX Ealing 202 187 189 173 
			 SHY Hounslow 160 138 145 120 
			 5K5 Brent 167 175 166 166 
			 5K6 Harrow 126 124 127 131 
			 5K7 Camden 165 155 165 160 
			 5K8 Islington 127 112 117 118 
			 5K9 Croydon 180 176 186 193 
			 5LA Kensington and Chelsea 83 78 78 79 
			 5LC Westminster 207 192 185 187 
			 5LD Lambeth 123 117 117 123 
			 5LE Southwark 98 95 88 96 
			 5LF Lewisham 124 120 126 124 
			 5LG Wandsworth 170 150 155 149 
			 5M6 Richmond and Twickenham 109 110 111 114 
			 5M7 Sutton and Merton 198 197 191 183 
			 SNA Redbridge 141 139 142 146 
			 5NC Waltham Forest 89 92 98 102 
			 TAK Bexley Care Trust 86 86 90 93 
			 Total  4,027 3,942 4,055 4,033 
		
	
	
		Year end March Average GDS gross fee per London dentist1997 to 2005
		
			 Year end March Number of GDS dentists GDS gross fees () Ave fee per dentist () 
		
		
			 199697 3,601 198,076,292 55,006 
			 199798 3,772 200,461,816 53,145 
			 199899 3,876 211,359,763 54,530 
			 19992000 4,015 216,653,251 53,961 
			 200001 4,006 229,052,591 57,177 
			 200102 4,027 235,624,063 58,511 
			 200203 3,942 242,537,032 61,526 
			 200304 4,055 254,448,442 62,749 
			 200405 4,033 252,320,728 62,564 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The figures are based on the numbers of dentists with open GDS contract.
	2.GDS gross fees cover a dentist's individual earnings as well as their practice expenses.
	3.The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	4.A dentist will be counted more than once if he/she works in more than one PCT.
	5.Prison contracts have not been included in this analysis.
	6.In view of the boundary changes from health authorities to PCT's in 2002 the areas have been defined using practice postcodes.
	7.The figures provide a snapshot of the number of individual dentists with an open contract at 31 March.
	8.A dentist with a GDS contract may provide as little or as much NHS treatment as he or she chooses.
	9.The Dental Practice Board has no information concerning the amount of time dedicated to NHS work by individual dentists.
	10. Care should be taken when analysing this data due to dentists changing contracts from GDS to PDS, particularly the later years.
	11. The earnings figures are based on whatever the definition of London was at the time, in particular the earlier figures are based on Health Authority boundaries.
	12. Dentist numbers are on a headcount basisno estimate of whole-time equivalent is available.
	Old health authorities used to define London
	QAP Barking and HaveringQAQ Barnet
	QAA Bexley and Greenwich
	QAR Brent and Harrow
	QAC Bromley
	QAT Camden and Islington
	QAD Croydon
	QAV Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow
	QAW East London and The City
	QA4 Enfield and Haringey
	QA2 Hillingdon
	QA3 Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster
	QAH Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham
	QAG Kingston and Richmond
	QAJ Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth
	A5 Redbridge and Waltham Forest

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of (a) children and (b) adults living in the Portsmouth area are registered with an NHS dentist; and what the figures were in each of the previous four years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is as follows:
	
		Number of adult and child national health service dental registrations in Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust as a percentage of population(34), as at 30 September
		
			  Percentage 
			  Adult Child All 
		
		
			 2001 49 66 53 
			 2002 49 65 52 
			 2003 50 68 54 
			 2004(35) 49 69 53 
		
	
	(34)Residents estimates based on 2001 census.
	(35)2003 resident estimates based on 2001 census.
	Sources:
	Dental Practice Board.
	Office for National Statistics.

Dentistry

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent NHS dentists have been employed in Hornsey and Wood Green constituency in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information on full-time equivalent national health service dentists is not available as dentists are able to vary the amount of hours they work and their NHS commitment. Many dentists do some private work.
	The number of dentists doing NHS work in the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			 As at 31 December each year Number 
		
		
			 2000 81 
			 2001 83 
			 2002 88 
			 2003 93 
			 2004 89 
		
	
	This data come from the Dental Practice Board and relate to the number of dentists working in the general dental service and personal dental service and relate to dentists whose practice address postcode is within the constituency boundary.

Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have (a) left and (b) joined the NHS in the Portsmouth area in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS)number of dentists leaving and joining the national health service in Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) as at December in the specified years
		
			  Complete leavers Complete new entrants 
		
		
			 2000 13 11 
			 2001 7 9 
			 2002 4 9 
			 2003 7 7 
			 2004 5 6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Complete leaver means that the dentist had an open contract in December of the previous year but no GDS or PDS contract in the PCT in December of the specified year.
	2.Complete new entrant means that the dentist had an open contract in December of the specified year but no GDS or PDS contract in the PCT in December of the previous year.
	3.The figures are based on GDS and PDS contracts.
	4.The dentists include principals, assistants and trainees.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Dentistry

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were employed in each primary care trust in North Yorkshire in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS)number of dentists in North Yorkshire primary care trusts (PCTs) as at 31 March each year
		
			 Primary care trust 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Craven, Harrogate and Rural District 101 104 106 
			 Hambleton and Richmondshire 50 55 57 
			 Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale 67 69 87 
			 Selby and York 127 134 143 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The figures given by PCT include all dentists practising in that area. Some dentists may have an open GDS or PDS contract in more than one PCT and therefore they have been counted more than once.
	2.Prison contracts have been excluded.
	3.The areas have been defined using practice postcodes within the specified areas.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Departmental Relocation

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of her Department's posts (a) have been relocated and (b) are under consideration for relocation from London to the deprived areas of the South East.

Jane Kennedy: No posts from the Department have been relocated to the South East and there are no current plans to do so.

Digital Hearing Aids

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many digital hearing aids (a) were fitted in 2004 and (b) have been fitted in 2005 in (i) NHS hospitals and (ii) private dispensers who are part of the public-private partnership scheme.

Liam Byrne: The numbers of digital hearing aids fitted are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Where fitted 2004 2005 
		
		
			 National health service hospitals 270,000 (36)60,000 
			 Private public partnership scheme 14,000 (37)21,000 
		
	
	(36)First quarter only.
	(37)To end May.
	Source:
	Modernising hearing aids services programme.

Drug Rehabilitation

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were placed in drug rehabilitation programmes in each London borough since June 2004.

Jane Kennedy: These data are not yet available. Figures for the period April 2004 to March 2005 will be published in the autumn. Data for the period April 2003 to March 2004 can be found on the National Treatment Agency's website at www.nta.nhs.uk/programme/national/docs/Numbers_in_treatment_by_DAT_ 2003.04.pdf.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research she has commissioned on the (a) physical causes and (b) treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy; how much public funding has been spent on such research in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Under-Secretary with responsibility for care services, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) gave on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 637W to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley).

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to increase the funding for research to find treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 June 2005
	The main agency through which the Government support medical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). It is a long-standing and important principle, held to by successive Administrations, that the Government do not prescribe how individual research councils should distribute their resources between competing priorities. In 200304, the MRC spent some 2.4 million on research relevant to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In March 2004, the former Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Hamilton, North and Bellshill (John Reid), announced an award of 1.6 million over three years to fund gene therapy research for DMD. This is pioneering research and it is not possible to know in advance of completion of the preliminary work already funded by the Department whether this approach is likely to be successful. We look forward to receiving progress reports from the DMD research consortium in due course.

Edgware Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she made of the requirement for (a) key worker housing and (b) affordable housing before the agreement was reached to sell surplus land at Edgware hospital.

Jane Kennedy: The responsibility for disposal of land at Edgware hospital lies with Barnet Primary Care Trust and they have taken into account the necessary factors including the availability of key worker or affordable housing and local planning requirements when doing so.

Edgware Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the availability of digital hearing aids at Edgware hospital.

Jane Kennedy: Since April 2005, all national health service audiology services in England should be routinely fitting digital hearing aids.

End-of-Life Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 421W, on end-of-life care, what estimate she has made of the amount each primary care trust will receive in each of the next three years; and how many more people she estimates will have access to palliative care.

Rosie Winterton: The money has been allocated to strategic health authorities, which are working with primary care trusts to determine how they will meet the end of life care needs of the local population. They will jointly determine how the funding is used.

Eye Tests (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many eye tests were conducted in each London health authority in each year since 1997; and how many of them were free to the user.

Jane Kennedy: The number of all eye tests that were conducted in each London health authority is not collected centrally. However, the total number of sight tests paid for by the national health service in the London strategic health authorities since 1997 is collected centrally and is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Strategic health authority 199798 199899 19992000 200001 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 North West London 235,793 223,970 280,634 280,936 286,719 279,395 282,842 
			 North Central London 188,480 180,171 214,174 224,336 215,142 201,480 208,946 
			 North East London 254,802 257,947 299,614 293,362 294,412 283,500 282,725 
			 South East London 189,295 187,477 237,871 248,497 249,720 242,308 240,961 
			 South West London 155,014 153,930 206,217 206,706 197,540 198,239 202,808 
			 Total 1,023,384 1,003,495 1,238,510 1,253,837 1,243,533 1,204,923 1,218,282 
		
	
	Note:
	1.Sight tests cannot be equated to the numbers of patients. Although most people do not come back for a sight test within the year, some patients suffering from medical conditions are advised to have re-examinations sooner.
	2.With effect from 1 April 1999, the Government restored eligibility to everyone aged 60 or over regardless of income.
	3.Everyone was eligible for free NHS sight tests until 1989, when eligibility was restricted to children, people on low income and benefits and people suffering from or predisposed to eye disease.

Faith Communities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent consultations have been carried out by her Department with representatives of faith communities; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department consulted with faith communities when producing the national service frameworks for coronary heart disease, diabetes and mental health. The Department and the national health service continue to engage faith communities in public health campaigns such as smoking cessation and organ donation. The Department also maintains close contact with a multi-faith group, which was independently formed by and comprises of representatives of a wide range of faith communities, as part of our commitment to a multi-faith approach to NHS chaplaincy.
	Recent departmental consultations with faith communities include the following:
	The development of the departmental guidance, NHS Chaplaincy: Meeting the Religious and Spiritual Needs of Patients and Staff, published in November 2003 and the Department's subsequent review of the central funding arrangements in the summer of 2004. The review was conducted with the participation of the multi-faith group, Hospital Chaplaincies Council, College of Health Care Chaplains, Free Churches Council, South Yorkshire Workforce Development Confederation, Jewish Visitation Committee, Muslim Council of Britain and representatives from the other main world faiths. This report was followed by a further consultation period to allow the faith groups to comment on the recommendations made in the report. The Department and its representatives met regularly with the above groups during this time, culminating with the Department's response, which was published on 23 March 2005.
	In November 2003, the Department organised a stakeholder event including representatives of faith communities as part of the national consultation on Fair for All Personal to You: Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS. Stakeholders had the opportunity to contribute ideas to choice, responsiveness and equity in the provision of health and social services that are more patient-centred and fair to all.
	In the field of mental health, the National Institute for Mental Health in England is collaborating with the Mental Health Foundation on a project exploring the links between spirituality and mental health. The aim of the project is to collate current thinking on the importance of spirituality in mental health, to evaluate the role of faith communities, and to develop and promote good practice.
	Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care, the Government's action plan for tackling inequalities in services for black and minority ethnic communities, was published in January 2005 and was based on wide consultation including representatives of faith groups. It states clearly that everyone who experiences mental ill health is entitled to a safe and clinically effective environment that respects their beliefs, culture, faith, spiritual needs, background and values. Local health agencies are expected to form partnerships with diverse faith communities, providing a forum for discussion about mental health services.

Fertility Treatment

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many couples have been funded for (a) one, (b) two and (c) more than two cycles of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment by (i) North Hampshire Primary Care Trust and (ii) primary care trusts in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority area in each year since 200001; how many couples she expects will receive funding for (A) one and (B) more than one cycle of IVF treatment in 200506 from (1) North Hampshire Primary Care Trust and (2) primary care trusts in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority area; if she will make additional resources available to primary care trusts to support the provision of IVF treatment; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 21 June 2005
	Information about the number of patients receiving national health service infertility treatment is not collected centrally. The primary responsibility for the provision of these services rests with the NHS at local level. The consideration that primary care trusts give to this is part of the range of factors that they take into account, in liaison with local health bodies and patient groups, in deciding their policy on the provision of treatment services for their locality. This policy will, quite rightly, reflect local health needs and priorities.

NHS Financial Deficits (Eastbourne)

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial deficits were (a) at the end of the last financial year and (b) for the most recent period for which figures are available of (i) the East Sussex hospitals trust, (ii) the Eastbourne Downs primary care trust and (iii) the county healthcare crust.

Caroline Flint: The latest year for which audited data on the financial position of national health service organisations are available is 200304. The financial position for East Sussex hospitals NHS trust, Eastbourne Downs primary care trust (PCT) and East Sussex county healthcare NHS trust is shown in the following table.
	
		
		
			  Trust Outturn 200304 surplus/(deficit) 
		
		
			 East Sussex hospitals NHS trust (1,787,000) 
			 Eastbourne Downs PCT (3,533,000) 
			 East Sussex county healthcare NHS trust (1,025,000) 
		
	
	All figures are from the audited summarisation schedules for 200304 for the particular bodies.

Food Standards Agency

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the employees of the Food Standards Agency are (a) registered nutritionists and (b) registered dieticians.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) only holds data centrally on the nutrition qualifications of those working in nutrition posts. The FSA employs eight registered public health nutritionists working as nutritionists within its nutrition division. They are registered with the Nutrition Society and represent 16 per cent. of employees in the division. In addition, the FSA's nutrition division includes a further 12 employees with qualifications in nutrition, making a total of 20 nutritionists or 39 per cent. of the division staff. A further registered nutritionist and three others with qualifications in nutrition are employed in the FSA's offices in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Taken all together, these 24 nutritionists represent three per cent. of FSA employees. The FSA does not employ any registered dieticians as dieticians.
	The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), an advisory committee of independent experts, also provides advice to the FSA and other Government Agencies and Departments on nutrition matters.

Food Standards Agency

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the Food Standards Agency Nutrition Strategy.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency's role, intentions and targets on eating for health are set out in its strategic plan for 200510, Putting consumers first. This was published last December and a copy is available in the Library.

Food Supplements

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2005, Official Report,column 527W, on food labelling/supplements, 
	(1)  whether she plans to meet representatives of the health food sector prior to the ruling of the European Court of Justice in relation to the Food Supplements Directive;
	(2)  when she next expects to meet Commissioner Kyprianou; what plans she has to discuss with the Commissioner the objectives of the United Kingdom for the future regulation of food supplements; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  whether the preservation of consumer choice remains one of her objectives for the future regulation of food supplements.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has developed a range of options as part of its strategy in anticipation of the outcome of the ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
	The objectives of the United Kingdom for future regulation of food supplements are dependent on the ruling from the ECJ. When we have the ruling, the Government will consider what further discussions with the European Commissioner are required. Preservation of consumer choice remains one of several objectives in the regulation of food supplements. Other objectives include consumer safety and the promotion of free trade.

General Practice

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her policy on the future of general practice.

Liam Byrne: The Department have already provided a flexible framework for primary care trusts to plan, commission and develop primary care services that offer improved access and capacity for patients and greater responsiveness to the needs of their communities. Improved contractual arrangements for general practice have been agreed with the medical profession and these will be kept under review. The Department remains committed to ensuring that general practitioners can play a full part in commissioning or providing appropriate health services for their patients.
	We are proposing to launch a White Paper which will cover the provision of care outside of a secondary care setting including care in general practice. This will be informed by a major consultation with the public, patients, the professions and staff on the future development of hospital services to meet the needs of patients.

General Practitioner Cover

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what minimum standards of cover are laid down by her Department for out-of-hours general practitioner services in England; and how these standards are monitored.

Liam Byrne: The Department's aim is to ensure that all patients can be assured of high quality, responsive and consistent out-of-hours services wherever they live. That is why we have put in place the quality requirements, which set minimum standards for the delivery of out-of-hours care. Primary care trusts and strategic health authorities must performance-manage the provider to ensure that these requirements are met.

GM Foods

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has made to the EU Commission on its recent proposals on GM foods.

Caroline Flint: There have not been any recent European Commission proposals on genetically modified (GM) foods. Regulations controlling GM foods were agreed in 2003 and came into force in April 2004. No representations have been made to the European Commission.

Health Bodies

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had to facilitate the merger of the Commission for Social Care Inspection with the Healthcare Commission; what progress is being made; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 22 June 2005
	I have met the chairs of both the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission to discuss the merger and we are now considering how best to take the merger forward in the context of the wider review of regulation in social care and health announced in March.

Health Bodies

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish her Department's cost assessment of the merger of the Commission for Social Care Inspection with the Healthcare Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 22 June 2005
	The merger of the Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection is expected to generate efficiencies and economies of scale, which contribute to the delivery of savings to be attained across all of the Department's arm's length bodies.
	A detailed assessment of costs and savings arising out of the merger will be developed as implementation planning progresses.

Health Bodies

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether primary legislation will be required to merge the Commission for Social Care Inspection with the Healthcare Commission; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 22 June 2005
	Primary legislation will be needed to merge the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer has stated that this merger will take place by 2008.

Health Development Agency

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were employed by the Health Development Agency in each of the last five years; and in what capacity.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held by the Department. The Health Development Agency was an independent body and was abolished on 31 March 2005. On 1 April 2005 its functions were transferred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence who should be contacted directly for this information.

Health Services (Gloucestershire)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to re-organise primary care trusts in Gloucestershire.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 23 June 2005
	There are currently no plans to re-organise primary care trusts (PCTs) in Gloucestershire. PCTs are central to improving the health of their populations by commissioning high quality care. As we implement the next stage of the national health service reforms, including practice based commissioning and streamlining NHS management, PCTs will need to change and develop. These changes need to reflect local circumstances and form part of a structured programme for the NHS as a whole.

Hearing Aids (Hornsey and Wood Green)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people are on the waiting list for a digital hearing aid in Hornsey and Wood Green; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how long the waiting time is for patients in Hornsey and Wood Green who need a hearing aid; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what the cost, including the instrument, overhead charges and staff cost is for the NHS to fit a digital hearing aid for a patient with hearing loss in Hornsey and Wood Green; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Hepatitis C

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she has undertaken of regional variations in the delivery of treatment for hepatitis C.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not undertaken any such studies.

Hepatitis C

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will (a) mount a hepatitis C awareness campaign and (b) develop adequately resourced managed clinical networks to tackle hepatitis C.

Caroline Flint: The Department launched a hepatitis C awareness campaign for health care professionals in June 2004 and, following that, a public awareness campaign in December 2004; both are on-going.
	The Hepatitis C Strategy for England proposed the development of managed clinical networks for the assessment and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection to enable co-ordinated pathways of care. In line with Shifting the Balance of Power, decisions about networks and their funding are for local determination.

Hepatitis C

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will undertake research on the incidence of hepatitis C among prisoners (a) on reception and (b) on discharge.

Rosie Winterton: We have no current plans to do so.

Herceptin

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations she has received from Roche relating to the licensing of herceptin for non-terminal breast cancer patients;
	(2)  if she will intervene in the licensing process to ensure that herceptin is rapidly approved for NHS treatment in all breast cancer cases.

Rosie Winterton: Roche has written to the Department to make Ministers aware of recent trial results for herceptin as an adjuvant treatment for early breast cancer. They have informed us that they are working closely with the regulatory authorities about licensing.
	The licensing procedure is a confidential matter between the regulatory bodies, European Medicine Agency and United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and the pharmaceutical company concerned. It involves the detailed evaluation of the application and supporting evidence by experts, known as rapporteurs. It would not be appropriate for the Department to intervene in this process.
	When applying for a licence a company can ask the regulatory bodies for an expedited assessment if there is an urgent need in patients which is unmet by any other treatments. Information regarding the progress of individual applications for license is commercially sensitive and, as such, is not available to the Department.

Herceptin

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the number of breast cancer patients who would benefit from herceptin but for whom it cannot be prescribed until the product is licensed for non-terminal patients.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has not yet made any firm estimates of the number of breast cancer patients who would benefit from herceptin but for whom it cannot be prescribed until the product is licensed for non-terminal patients.
	The Department has asked Professor Mike Richards, the national cancer director, to consider the issues surrounding the introduction of herceptin for the treatment of early breast cancer across the national health service, including the number of patients who would benefit.
	The Department of Health is also urgently considering referring herceptin for the treatment of early breast cancer to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for appraisal.

Herceptin

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to support the fast-tracking of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisal for the use of Herceptin to treat early-stage breast cancer HER2-positive women.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Herceptin is not yet licensed for early-stage breast cancer in England and cannot be considered by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence until it receives its license.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish data collected under the MRSA bacteraemia mandatory surveillance scheme broken down by (a) hospital department and (b) specialism when the enhanced surveillance scheme becomes operational.

Jane Kennedy: An enhanced surveillance system for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemias is being piloted and this includes recording the department or specialism within the trust where the patient was being treated when the infection was identified. If successful, this system will be rolled out to all acute trusts and these data will form part of our routine publication.

Hospital Acquired Infections

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the rules that govern the reporting, collating and publishing of information from hospital trusts about cases of Clostridium difficile.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 16 June 2005
	The Department introduced mandatory surveillance for Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea in 2004. The first results from this will be published in the summer. The Health Protection Agency also has a voluntary reporting system and the data from this is already routinely published on their website.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the results of the user survey of the MRSA bacteraemia mandatory surveillance scheme will be published.

Jane Kennedy: The results of the user survey of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA bacteraemia mandatory surveillance scheme are expected to be published in a peer reviewed journal in the summer.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) cases of MRSA there were and (b) deaths were caused by MRSA in care homes in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 22 June 2005
	The number of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in care homes is not collected centrally.
	The number of death certificates mentioning MRSA by place of death is published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 1 . The latest year for which figures are available is 2003. Care homes are not separately identified at death registration. The table shows the numbers of deaths which occurred in nursing and residential homes in England and Wales where MRSA was mentioned on the death certificate for the calendar years 2001 to 2003.
	1 Identified using the methodology described in Griffiths C., Lamagni T.L., Crowcroft N.S., Duckworth G. and Rooney C. (2004) Trends in MRSA in England and Wales: analysis of morbidity and mortality data for 19932002. Health Statistics Quarterly 21, 1522.
	
		Number of deaths mentioning MRSA in nursing(38)andresidential(39) homes, England and Wales, 20012003(40)
		
			  Nursing homes Residential homes Nursing and residential homes 
		
		
			 2001 41 12 53 
			 2002 42 11 53 
			 2003 51 19 70 
		
	
	Notes:
	(38)Includes national health service and non-NHS nursing homes.
	(39)Includes private residential homes and local authority residential homes.
	(40)Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Hospital Acquired Infections

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the results of the mandatory surveillance scheme for MRSA bacteraemia for the period between October 2004 and March 2005.

Jane Kennedy: The results of the full fourth year from the mandatory surveillance scheme, for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemias, were published by individual named trusts on the Department's website on the 23 June 2005 at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/40/15/04114015.pdf.
	National and regional information will be published on the Health Protection Agency's website.

Hospital Isolation Facilities

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to audit the adequacy of isolation facilities within NHS hospitals.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has no plans to audit isolation facilities within national health service hospitals. It is for the strategic health authorities to ensure appropriate provision based on their local needs.

Hospital Workers (Drug Dependency)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1) what support is available to hospital workers who become addicted to drugs;
	(2)  whether the Government plan to increase the support available to hospital workers who become addicted to drugs.

Liam Byrne: The Department issued guidance, Taking alcohol and other drugs out of the NHS workplace, in February 2001. Earlier this year, the guidance was re-issued as part of the Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues for NHS Staff, by NHS Employers, which provides support to employers.
	The guidance recommends that staff who are identified as having a problem, either through self-referral or management action, and who are willing to undertake treatment, should be rehabilitated. The cost of retaining them as useful employees and utilising their knowledge far outweighs the costs of losing them from the national health service.
	NHS employers should have policies and support in place to address any problems of drugs and alcohol use among staff. The findings of the recent NHS staff survey report 80 per cent. of staff having access to counselling services.

Hospitals (Shropshire)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) budget and (b) budget deficit of the RJ and AH Orthopaedic hospital, Gobowen has been in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The table shows the total income and the retained surplus/(deficit) for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic hospital national health service trust.
	
		 thousand
		
			   Total income Retained surplus/(Deficit) 
		
		
			 19992000 30,447 Breakeven 
			 200001 32,077 Breakeven 
			 200102 35,554 9 
			 200203 38,271 (792) 
			 200304 41,968 (2,314) 
		
	
	Sources:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the above trust 19992000 to 200304.
	Shropshire and Staffordshire strategic health authority reports that the trust is planning to reduce the deficit during the current financial year based on a range of measures predominantly linked to delivering increased additional activity.

Inspection fees (Charities)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will reduce inspection fees levied by the Healthcare Commission on small charities offering medical treatments;
	(2)  for what reasons inspection fees charged for the Sussex MS Treatment Centre in Southwick, West Sussex, by the Healthcare Commission are due to rise by the amount planned in the period to 2008;
	(3)  what the reasons are for the proposed increase of inspection fees charged by the Healthcare Commission to inspect small charitable medical treatment centres over the next three years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 20 June 2005
	Government policy is to move to a position of full cost recovery, where the fee income received by inspectorates, such as the Healthcare Commission, matches the costs incurred in carrying out regulatory work. Our intention is that the Healthcare Commission should achieve a position of full cost recovery by 2008 at the latest. The regulatory fee increase for 200506, announced in February 2005, was a step in that direction. No decisions have been taken about the level of fees in future years, though the costs of registration and inspection are still higher than the sum collected by the Healthcare Commission in fees.
	When the fee levels for 200506 were announced in February, my noble Friend Lord Warner, the then Under Secretary wrote to private and voluntary health care providers telling them of the new fees; he also confirmed that the Department would be working with the Healthcare Commission to develop a timetable for the Commission to take on responsibility for fee setting and that we anticipated that the Commission would assume responsibility from April 2006. I understand that in preparation for taking on that responsibility, the Commission has established a programme to look at costs and the different types of providers it regulates so that when it is given the power to set fees, it will have comprehensive information on which to base its approach. The Commission would also consult publicly on any new fee structure.

Intensive Care Provision

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been conducted on comparative survival rates in hospitals with and without intensive care on site.

Jane Kennedy: The Department is not aware of any research specific to the comparative survival rates in hospitals with and without intensive care on site.

IT Contracts

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) projected cost at the time of tender and (b) actual cost at the time of completion was for each IT contract commissioned by her Department in the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information technology contracts commissioned by the Department, with projected costs at the time of tender and the actual cost at time of completion, are shown in the table.
	
		
		
			 Project Projected cost Actual cost 
		
		
			 'VISTA'Oracle financials system 6,130,000 5,633,498 
			 'PAST'processing of abortion statistics 109,100 137,300 
			 Benchmarking programme 1,168,000 971,000 
			 BT hosting 345,000 306,000 
			 Departmental website hosting 145,000 156,000 
		
	
	The increased actual costs for the PAST project are as a result of additional requirements identified following award of contract. Similarly, the increase in costs for the Departmental website hosting is a reflection of a refining of service and service levels.

Laptop Computers

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many laptop computers have been used by (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) officials in her Department in each year since 1995; how many have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in that period; what the cost was of the use of laptops in that period; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: No central records are kept of laptops provided specifically to previous Ministers and special advisers. However, current Ministers and special advisers have been assigned a laptop each, where they have a requirement for one. In the last financial year, there were six Ministers, three of whom had a requirement and in this financial year, six Ministers, of whom four have laptops. Three special advisers had laptops last year. Two of the three special advisers this year have been allocated a laptop, with potential for a third adviser also to have one. This reflects the situation since 1995 where laptops have been assigned as required.
	At present, there are 2,310 laptops within the Department, which are either stand-alone models or configured to access the Department's computer network remotely. This number encompasses the laptops issued to Ministers, special advisers and officials of the Department. The officials include contractors working on behalf of the Department. Records do not show any differentiation between officials and contractors so cannot be identified separately.
	The number of laptops is taken from an asset register, which is updated constantly and provides a snapshot figure. Figures from previous years are therefore not available.
	The cost of usage in this context is taken to mean the cost of support and maintenance of the laptops by the information technology service provider (ISP). The structure of the ISP charging model means that it is not possible to demonstrate the costs of usage of individual laptops. Their overall charge includes elements covering several services: help desk, incident and problem resolution (including hardware maintenance), second and third line support, and service management charges. It is not simply a case of aggregating the charge and dividing by the number of laptops to produce a yearly cost.
	The numbers of laptops lost or stolen and the cost and usage of laptops within the last 10 years are shown in the table.
	
		
			 Financial year Laptops lost/stolen Total cost of laptops () Average cost per laptop () 
		
		
			 199596 11 17,235.00 1,566.80 
			 199697 15 24,165.55 1,610.97 
			 199798 23 43,098.68 1,873.85 
			 199899 19 40,068.70 2,108.87 
			 19992000 18 36,260.35 2,014.46 
			 200001 23 46,917.62 2,039.89 
			 200102 35 62,275.69 1,779.30 
			 200203 26 40,997.26 1,576.81 
			 200304 34 51,459.53 1,513.51 
			 200405 23 32,783.94 1,425.38 
			 Total 227 395,262.32

Long-Term Residential Care

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the change in the number of available long-term care residential places since 1997.

Liam Byrne: According to the latest United Kingdom market survey, published in September 2004 by the independent healthcare analysts Laing and Buisson (LB), the level of spare capacity in the care home sector has remained the same over the last three years, at around 10,000 places, despite a fall in the number of care home places. In March 2004, the national average occupancy rate was 92.1 per cent. in private sector care homes, 90.2 per cent, for care homes with nursing; 92.4 per cent, for other care homes.
	The LB report shows a net loss of 10,800 care home places. However, the report shows demand has also fallen by about 10,000.
	Our policy is that people should be supported to remain living in their own homes, wherever possible.

Malaria

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with malaria in each London health authority in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Patient countsmalaria defined as ICD-10 codes between*B50-B54 recorded in primary or any of the secondary diagnosis fields, NHS hospitals in England, 200102 to 200304
		
			 SHA of residence 200102 200203 200304 
		
		
			 North West London SHA 179 217 201 
			 North Central London SHA 196 158 184 
			 North East London SHA 308 261 284 
			 South East London SHA 284 309 285 
			 South West London SHA 123 105 114 
			 Total London SHAs 1,090 1,050 1,068 
		
	
	Notes:
	Malaria:
	Malaria is defined by a primary or secondary diagnosis of:
	B50 Plasmodium falciparum malaria
	B51 Plasmodium vivax malaria
	B52 Plasmodium malariae malaria
	B53 Other parasitologically confirmed malaria
	B54 Unspecified malaria
	Patient counts:
	Patient counts are based on the unique patient identifier HESID. This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	Diagnosis (Primary Diagnosis):
	The primary diagnosis is the first of up to 14 (7 prior to 200203) diagnosis fields in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data set and provides the main reason why the patient was in hospital.
	Secondary Diagnoses:
	As well as the primary diagnosis, there are up to 13 (6 prior to 200203) secondary diagnosis fields in Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) that show other diagnoses relevant to the episode of care.
	Ungrossed Data:
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health

Maternity Services

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued on the provision of maternity services, including HIV treatment to prevent mother to child transmission, to women who do not have leave to remain in the UK.

Liam Byrne: Guidance on how to handle the provision of maternity services to women without leave to remain in the United Kingdom is contained in the document, Implementing the Overseas Visitors Hospital Charging Regulations: Guidance for NHS Trust Hospitals in England, issued to all trusts in April 2004.
	In response to a recommendation from the Health Select Committee in its recent report, New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy, the existing guidance was re-issued to trust overseas visitors managers on 16 May 2005. This confirmed that, because of the seriousness of potential risks to mother and baby, maternity services should be treated as immediately necessary treatment and provided without delay. This could include HIV treatment if considered clinically appropriate. However, if the patient is an overseas visitor who is not eligible to receive national health service hospital treatment free of charge, then they should be charged for any treatment provided.

Maternity Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the performance of maternity services at Northwick Park hospital.

Jane Kennedy: The North West London Hospitals National Health Service Trust is actively addressing issues at the maternity unit at Northwick Park hospital. Last year the trust, Brent Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Harrow PCT invited the Healthcare Commission to help the Trust with improvements. In April 2005, the Department, on the recommendation of the Healthcare Commission, introduced special measures at the unit to provide additional resource and external clinical support to accelerate the improvement programme.
	The trust welcomed these measures and has been progressing with its action plan, which is based on the draft Healthcare Commission report and the requirements of the special measures. While there is further work to be done, including completing the refurbishment of the unit in December 2005, the trust and North West London Strategic Health Authority are confident that good progress is being made.

Medical Staff

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure (a) doctors and (b) dentists are not intoxicated while at work; and what procedure is followed if a doctor or dentist is found to be intoxicated while on duty.

Liam Byrne: Every national health service employer has a code of conduct or staff rules, which sets out acceptable standards of conduct and behaviour expected of all its employees. Breaches of these rules are considered to be misconduct. Misconduct can cover a wide range of behaviour and be classified in a number of ways.
	The Department issued guidance, Taking alcohol and other drugs out of the NHS workplace in February 2001. Earlier this year the guidance was re-issued as part of the Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Issues for NHS Staff by NHS Employers, who provide support to employers.
	The guidance recommends that staff who are identified as having a problem, either through self-referral or management action, and who are willing to undertake treatment, should be rehabilitated. The cost of retaining them as useful employees and utilising their knowledge far outweighs the costs of losing them from the NHS.
	NHS employers should have policies and support in place to address any problems of drugs and alcohol use among staff. The findings of the recent NHS staff survey report showed 80 per cent. of staff having access to counselling services.

Medical Staff

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for support for doctors and other clinical staff who may be abusing drugs or alcohol.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz), today.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role the (a) Healthcare Commission and (b) Commission for Social Care Inspection will play in monitoring compliance with the codes of practice of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Liam Byrne: The Healthcare Commission works to improve standards in both national health service and independent sector organisations and regulates the independent healthcare sector through registration and inspection. The Commission for Social Care Inspection works to improve standards in social care provision and regulates services relating to both adults and to children, through registration and inspection.
	It will be important for health and social care statutory agencies to take account of the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act in their work once the Act is implemented, in order to ensure they are performing effectively and, in certain circumstances, lawfully.
	The Commissions will take this into account in their assessment of standards and performance by the statutory services they inspect.
	Officials involved in implementing the Mental Capacity Act have held early discussions with both Commissions about the implications of the Act for their operations, and will continue to do so as implementation proceeds.

Mental Health Wards (Safety)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance her Department provides to mental health wards to improve (a) staff, (b) patient and (c) visitor safety;
	(2)  what plans she has to improve the safety of (a) patients and (b) staff within mental health wards.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) published guidance on Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings in February 2004.
	The Department also commissioned the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to develop guidelines on The short-term management of disturbed or violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments, which was published in February 2005.
	In 2004, a national advisory and consultancy service was jointly established by NIMHE and the National Patient Safety Agency to support frontline services and a cross-government group is developing proposals for national accreditation and regulation of trainers and training programmes on the recognition, prevention and management of violence.
	The NHS Security Management Service, along with NIMHE, has developed a training syllabus on non-physical intervention techniques for staff working in the mental health and learning disability environment, which, following trials in the summer, is envisaged to be implemented throughout the NHS. This syllabus includes de-escalation techniques and cultural awareness sessions with the aim of giving staff the skills required to be able to recognise, prevent, de-escalate and manage potentially violent situations.
	The Department has issued additional directions and guidance regarding the safety and security at Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton Hospitals, which can be found on the Department's website.

Mental Health Wards (Safety)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff members were attacked with weapons in mental health wards in (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

Jane Kennedy: Information on the numbers of staff that have been attacked with weapons in mental health wards in 2002, 2003 or 2004 has not been collected centrally.
	In April 2003, the NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) was created and assumed responsibility for tackling violence against national health service staff.
	In November 2003, a comprehensive range of measures were introduced to tackle incidences of violence against NHS staff, both proactively and reactively. The NHS SMS has begun a programme of work to identify the true nature, scale and extent of the problem of violence against NHS staff. Accurate information concerning physical assaults against NHS staff is expected to be available from summer 2005.

Mental Health Wards (Safety)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department's policy is on whether every mental health ward in England should have access to a psychiatric intensive care unit.

Rosie Winterton: As stated in the national service framework for mental health (1999), each local health and social care community needs to establish a balance of supported places, hospital beds, and home treatment, which should encompass intensive care beds for people needing a short period of intensive intervention and observation.

Mental Health Wards (Safety)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes the Department plans to make to the (a) recruitment of agency staff in mental health wards and (b) provision of entertainment and activities in mental health wards, following the publication of the Healthcare Commission's National Audit on Violence in mental health and learning disability services.

Rosie Winterton: The Department will continue to implement the national mental health workforce strategy (2004) in order to increase the numbers of staff working in mental health settings and develop their skills further. We will also continue to encourage service providers to widen the skills mix by supplementing the existing professional roles with new ones such as support, time and recovery workers. The Department will continue to support initiatives to improve the quality of patient care and performance by investing in national health service staff and setting common standards of quality and governance; and achieve better value for money and control over temporary staffing costs through the use of NHS professionals and agency framework agreements. The ongoing review of mental health nursing is also considering the use of agency nursing staff and a report is expected to be published next year.
	The national service framework for mental health (1999) and the mental health policy implementation guide on adult acute inpatient care (2002) require a flexible range of appropriate therapeutic and recreational resources and activities to be available in mental health inpatient settings. The latter requires the creation and maintenance of a therapeutic activity milieu to include evening and weekend activities and opportunities both on and off the ward which may include educational, social, daily living, artistic, recreational and leisure activities. The national minimum standards for general adult services in psychiatric intensive care units and low secure environments (2002) requires all patients to have access to fresh air and secure external space and space for regular exercise with appropriate supervision.

MRI Scans (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the waiting time is for MRI scans in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.

MRSA

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much Government funding has been allocated to research into MRSA in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC). The MRC is an independent body, funded by the Department of Trade and Industry via the Office of Science and Technology.
	The MRC does not currently fund meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) research and has not done so over the last five years. The MRC is, however, supporting a considerable programme of underpinning research that may lead to a greater understanding of MRSA and contribute to practical solutions in the future.
	The Department's national research programme spend on projects related to MRSA from 200102 to 200506 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Amount ( thousand) 
		
		
			 200102 23 
			 200203 10 
			 200304 267 
			 200405 439 
			 200506(41) (42)504 
		
	
	(41)The allocation for 200506 includes part of the cost of a three-year project designed to evaluate the clinical value of rapid diagnostic testing for MRSA that is due to start in July. The project is being funded from the 3 million provided for a research programme on healthcare associated infections that was announced at the time of the publication of the Department's report Winning Waysworking together to reduce healthcare associated infection in England.
	(42)Forecast expenditure.
	Over 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by NHS organisations. Details of individual projects, including a number concerned with MRSA, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.

MS Treatment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding her Department provides to charitable MS treatment facilities in (a) Sussex and (b) England.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 20 June 2005
	We provide funding for national multiple sclerosis charities. Individual multiple sclerosis treatment facilities receive funding from the fees they charge on NHS patient referrals.

National Blood Service

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being made to increase the availability of (a) B negative, (b) AB positive and (c) AB negative blood groups in the National Blood Service blood banks.

Caroline Flint: The National Blood Service (NBS) is continually working to maintain blood stocks, through a range of marketing and communication techniques. For example, on 14 June 2005, the NBS hosted World Blood Donor Day at eight events across the country, which celebrated the lives that have been saved by the generous donation of blood from donors. World Blood Donor Day was an opportunity to thank blood donors and raise awareness of the constant need for blood and blood donors.
	NBS blood stocks are currently good. The table shows NBS's red cell stocks as at 17 June 2005.
	
		
			   Red cell stocks  Number of validated units Equivalent number of days supply 
		
		
			 Total red blood cell stocks 47,101 7.39 
			 B negative red blood cell stocks 528 4.15 
			 AB positive red blood cell stocks 1,332 10.11 
			 AB negative red blood cell stocks 165 3.93 
		
	
	In addition to NBS stocks, each hospital blood bank will keep an appropriate stock of blood.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in each of the last five years; and in what capacity;
	(2)  how many people are employed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and in what capacity.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not held by the Department.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department issues to NHS trusts relating to the provision of treatment (a) prior to and (b) during a National Institute for Clinical Excellence appraisal.

Jane Kennedy: In 1999, the Department issued Health Service Circular 1999/176, which asks national health service bodies to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has not yet been issued. These arrangements should include an assessment of the available evidence.

NHS Direct

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls to NHS Direct about access to an NHS dentist there were in each month since January 2004 in England, broken down by (a) emergency, (b) urgent, (c) routine and (d) other calls.

Rosie Winterton: Calls to NHS Direct about access to a national health service dentist in each month since January 2004 by emergency, urgent, routine and other are shown in the table.
	
		NHS Direct dental calls by type for January 2004 to April 2005
		
			  Total Emergency Urgent Routine(43) Other (not known) 
		
		
			 January 2004 19,702 1,462 3,613 12,726 1,901 
			 February 2004 18,258 1,575 3,653 11,312 1,718 
			 March 2004 19,330 1,392 3,503 12,506 1,929 
			 April 2004 16,383 1,395 2,680 10,559 1,749 
			 May 2004 16,202 1,762 3,949 8,701 1,790 
			 October 2004 23,850 2,649 4,431 14,426 2,344 
			 November 2004 23,117 2,158 4,059 14,035 2,865 
			 December 2004 19,550 2,603 4,602 10,206 2,139 
			 January 2005 20,440 2,020 3,215 12,734 2,471 
			 February 2005 17,224 1,619 2,342 11,584 1,679 
			 March 2005 17,547 1,725 2,739 11,318 1,765 
			 April 2005 19,753 1,845 2,890 12,844 2,174 
		
	
	(43)Routine includes calls requesting routine information only about where to find a dentist and calls requesting routine dental health advice and information about where to find a dentist.
	Note:
	Data for June to September 2004 is not available.

NHS Staff Assaults

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) nurses and (b) other NHS employees have been the victims of offences of violence at work in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: Information on assaults against national health service staff by occupational grouping has not been collated centrally.
	In April 2003, the NHS security management service was created and assumed responsibility for the issue of tackling violence against NHS staff. In November 2003, a new national reporting system for physical assaults against NHS staff was introduced. Information concerning physical assaults against NHS staff is expected to be available from summer 2005.

NHS Staff Assaults

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) consultants and (d) auxiliary staff have been victims of violence in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust area in each of the last 10 years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The incidence of violence against staff at Mid-Essex Hospital is not available in the format requested or for the past 10 years.
	However, the table shows figures from the violence, accidents and harassment survey (VAH) for 200001, 200102 and 200203. These are figures for Mid-Essex Hospital National Health Service Trust as a whole and cannot be broken down by staff groups. The VAH survey is no longer collected so these figures are the latest available.
	
		Number of reported violent incidents against NHS staff in the Mid-Essex Hospital Trust for each specified period
		
			 Mid-Essex Hospital Trust (RQ8)  Number 
		
		
			 200001 94 
			 200102 72 
			 200203 171 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures are for financial years 1 April to 31 March
	Source:
	Survey of Violence, Accidents and Harassments in the NHS

NHS Staff Assaults

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on meeting targets set for reducing incidents of violence against NHS staff.

Jane Kennedy: In November 2003, a comprehensive range of measures were introduced to tackle incidences of violence against national health service staff, both proactively and reactively. The NHS Security Management Service has begun a programme of work to identify the true nature, scale and extent of the problem of violence against NHS staff. Once this work is completed meaningful and achievable targets for delivering a secure environment for NHS staff will be set.

Nutrition

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice and guidance her Department has issued on core education and training in respect of nutrition and malnutrition for (a) health and social care professionals and (b) health and social care workers involved in putting the new Unified Assessment procedures into practice at bands two and three of Agenda for Change or equivalent.

Liam Byrne: For health and social care professionals it is the responsibility of the appropriate regulatory bodies to set standards for the pre-registration training of doctors, nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals and approve the education institutions that provide the training and determine the curricula.
	Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service. The post-qualification framework for social workers has been reviewed by the General Social Care Council and new arrangements for post qualification awards will come into force in September 2007.
	For health and social care workers national occupational standards set out the skills, knowledge and values required and are used as benchmarks for national vocational qualifications. Joint health and social care national occupational standards contain specific standards on meeting nutritional needs.
	It is the responsibility of social care service providers and NHS trusts to ensure that their employees are suitably qualified and competent.

Nutrition

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what standards on meeting nutritional needs are included within Health and Social Care National Occupational Standards; and whether these standards are evidence-based.

Rosie Winterton: There are currently no evidence-based standards on meeting nutritional needs included within health and social care national occupational standards. However, the Department is developing a series of evidence and consensus-based guidelines relevant to occupational health practice as part of the redevelopment of NHS Plus as outlined in chapter seven, Work and Health of the White Paper, Choosing HealthMaking healthy choices easier. The aim of this is both to increase the quality of NHS Plus services and to develop occupational health services in the national health service. These guidelines are collated on the evidence-based guideline section of the NHS plus website at: www.nhsplus.nhs.uk.
	In addition, the new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), in a joint collaboration between the Centre for Clinical Practice and the Centre for Public Health Excellence, formerly the Health Development Agency, is developing a clinical guideline for the prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children. This is expected to be issued in February 2007.

Orthopaedic Prosthesis

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likely effect the standardisation of orthopaedic prosthesis will have on (a) the quality of life of affected patients in the West Hertfordshire Hospital and (b) patient choice; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There are no plans for the standardisation of orthopaedic prosthesis. However, the National Joint Registry (NJS) was established in April 2003 to collect information on total hip and knee replacement operations from hospitals in England and Wales. Both the national health service and independent health care sector are included. The NJR will enable surgeons, in discussion with patients, to agree which is the most appropriate prosthetic for individual patients needs.
	NJR participation is not mandatory although trusts are exhorted to comply. The level of compliance is improving and currently stands at 98.7 per cent. in both the NHS and independent hospitals. The NJR steering group became an advisory non-departmental public body (ANDPB) in January 2005. The NJR steering group is reviewing the data collected to ensure the NJR can become a powerful clinical audit tool.
	We are committed to giving patients more choice and control over their health care and services wherever possible. However, it is important to ensure that patients are only offered clinically appropriate choices. The NJR will enable surgeons to use the most appropriate orthopaedic prosthetic for specific patients needs, thus improving the quality of life for the patient post operatively.

Outpatient Waiting Times (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average wait is for an out-patient appointment in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: Information for primary care trusts in Lancashire is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Primary care trust Median wait(weeks) 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 7.00 
			 Morecambe Bay 6.99 
			 Chorley and South Ribble 7.13 
			 West Lancashire 7.69 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 7.11 
			 Burnley Pendle and Rossendale 7.66 
			 Preston 6.93 
			 Fylde 6.86 
			 Wyre 6.76 
			 Blackpool 7.55 
		
	
	Note:
	Out-patient commissioner data
	Source:
	QM08R

Palliative Care

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many palliative care beds are included in the total allocation of high dependency beds in the NHS;
	(2)  what the average daily cost per palliative care bed was in the last period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many palliative care beds for terminally ill patients there are in the NHS in England;
	(4)  what the total cost for patients in palliative care beds in England was in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what percentage that represents of the overall national budget for NHS hospital beds for that year.

Rosie Winterton: holding answers 23 June 2005
	We do not routinely collect the data requested. Information in the Hospice Directory 2005, published by Hospice Information, states that there are 488 beds in national health service palliative care adult inpatient units.
	There were 1,426 high dependency beds in the NHS on 13 January 2005the latest census date. We do not collect data on how many of these are palliative care beds.

Patient Records

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether Nationwide Clearing Service records pertaining to individual patients are available to hon. Members.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Nationwide Clearing Service (NWCS) provides a means of exchanging and processing data from national health service trusts and primary care trusts to the Department to support national performance management and strategic service planning.
	Access to its database is strictly controlled and is available only to approved NHS organisations for individually specified purposes, in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Physiotherapists

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new (a) junior and (b) senior physiotherapy posts have been created in the last five years in the NHS.

Liam Byrne: Information collected by the Department does not break down physiotherapists by grade. Information for the last five years on qualified physiotherapists employed in the national health service is shown in the following table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services(HCHS): qualified physiotherapists employed in the NHSas at 30 September each year
		
			  full-time equivalents headcount 
		
		
			 1997 11,348 14,243 
			 1998 11,709 14,699 
			 1999 12,047 15,070 
			 2000 12,515 15,608 
			 2001 12,992 16,212 
			 2002 13,586 16,885 
			 2003 14,455 17,922 
			 2004 15,564 19,139 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Physiotherapists

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many senior physiotherapists are in post in the NHS in England; and what the establishment figure is;
	(2)  what plans she has to increase the number of junior physiotherapy posts in the NHS in England; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the ability of physiotherapy graduates to obtain employment in the NHS in England; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Information collected by the Department does not break down physiotherapists by grade. As at September 2004, there were 19,139 physiotherapists employed in the national health service, which represents an increase of 4,896 or 34 per cent. since 1997.
	The Department is working closely with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the NHS work force review team and NHS organisations to help junior physiotherapists to find first posts of employment. As a result, of this collaborative work, there is an action plan in place to ensure local managers have access to a range of strategies across recruitment, commissioning and skill mix. It is the responsibility of local NHS employers and strategic health authorities to ensure there are sufficient numbers of physiotherapists to meet service needs.

Primary Care Trust Populations (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the population is of each primary care trust area in Lancashire.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health AuthorityLancashire primary care trusts Population 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 149,406 
			 Blackpool 140,654 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossedale 243,879 
			 Chorley and South Ribble 207,906 
			 Fylde 67,356 
			 Hyndburn and Ribble Valley 111,522 
			 Morecambe Bay 307,070 
			 Preston 135,222 
			 West Lancashire 107,146 
			 Wyre 119,530 
			 Total 1,588,691 
		
	
	The data were collected in April 2004 for general practitioner-relevant populations as at April 2003. The data have been constrained to the Office for National Statistics 2003 mid-year population estimates, based on the 2001 census, but do not include armed forces and some prisoners.

Prisons

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library a copy of the speech given by Dr. Mary Piper on 28 June 2004 at the Institute of Physics on the health needs of prisoners; and what the source was for the research referred to in the speech on rates of Hepatitis C in prison cohorts.

Rosie Winterton: No transcript exists of Dr. Piper's speech but copies of the slides that accompanied it will be placed in the Library. The research to which Dr. Piper referred was reported in The Incidence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Associated Risk Factors among Scottish Prison Inmates: A Cohort Study J.K. Champion, A. Taylor, S. Hutchinson, S. Cameron, J.McMenamin, A. Mitchell and D. Goldberg. American Journal of Epidemiology 2004 159: 514519.

Prisons

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in transferring responsibility for the provision of health care services in prisons to primary care trusts.

Rosie Winterton: On 1 April 2003, funding responsibility for primary health care services in publicly run prisons in England was transferred from the Home Office to the Department. From 1 April 2004, 18 national health service primary care trusts (PCTs) assumed commissioning responsibility for the primary health care services in 34 publicly run prison establishments in England. From 1 April 2005, PCTs assumed that responsibility for all but three of the remaining publicly run prison establishments in Leicester, Wellingborough and Wormwood Scrubs.
	It has been decided not to change the arrangements for commissioning primary health services in the contracted prisons for the present. Contractors continue to have responsibility for the provision of primary care services in their establishments under terms specified in their contracts with the Home Office. However, a full strategic review is being conducted of the health care elements of the contracts to run privately managed prisons to ensure that they bind contractors robustly into the principle of equivalence with the NHS. Work is also under way with the Healthcare Commission to seek to develop a system of inspection of health services in privately managed prisons that is equivalent to that in the NHS.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the funding announced on 11 May to increase patient centred research will be directed to psoriatic arthritis.

Liam Byrne: Decisions on the allocation of the United Kingdom clinical research collaboration funding for experimental medicine will be based on the merits of the individual applications received from researchers.

Report on Social Value Judgments

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on recommendations 6, 7 and 14 of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Report on Social Value Judgments: Guidelines for the Institute and its Advisory Bodies.

Jane Kennedy: The publication in question is a consultation document issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The consultation closes on 30 June.

Respiratory Complaints

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in each London health authority have been admitted to hospital with respiratory problems resulting from pollution in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: Figures for diagnosis of pollution-related conditions are not routinely recorded.

Sexual Health Services

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress of the review of sexual health services; what grants have been agreed to help relevant patients in (a) Redbridge and (b) Waltham Forest; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The two-year national review of genito urinary medicine (GUM) services began in autumn 2004 and is proceeding according to a roll-out plan, which will ensure that all GUM clinics will be visited. The review is being undertaken on behalf of the Department by the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health, who are working closely with sexual health leads in strategic health authorities. Visits to services have commenced in nine strategic health authority areas to date, including services commissioned by Redbridge and Waltham Forest Primary Care Trusts (PCTs).
	300 million new investment over three years has been committed nationally through the public health White Paper to improve sexual health, including 130 million capital and revenue to modernise services. This investment will be part of mainstream allocations and PCTs are responsible for deciding how this money will be used locally. In addition, the Department has provided funding to PCTs to develop services in areas where there is little or no sexual health provision. This includes Waltham Forest, where additional investment has been provided to establish six new clinics covering both specialist and community settings.

Smoking

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will consult on proposals to raise the age of sale for tobacco from 16 years to 18 years as part of the consultation process on the smoke free elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 23 June 2005
	Raising the age of sale for tobacco from 16 years to 18 years is opposed by the health lobby and anti-smoking groups like ASH. There is also a lack of good evidence that increasing the age at which tobacco is legally sold has any impact on smoking rates among young people.
	For that reason, we have concentrated our effort on ensuring that the existing age limits are effectively enforced. The Choosing Health White Paper set out proposals as follows:
	we propose that legislation be brought forward to create new powers to ban retailers from selling tobacco products, on a temporary basis, if they repeatedly flout the law. This complements the work already under way to improve proof of age schemes. We intend to support this measure by looking at higher fines and updated guidance for magistrates, along with education for retailers on better compliance with underage sales law. Before introducing these measures, we will consult with local authorities, the retail industry and other key stakeholders.

South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what change in funding from the 200506 baseline has been determined for South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust for 2006 to 2008.

Rosie Winterton: South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust will receive allocations of 313.5 million in 200607 and 344.3 million in 200708. These represent a cash increase of 57.1 million or 19.9 per cent. over the two years.

Stakeholder Consultations (Continuing Care)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 627W, on continuing care 
	(1)  what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials have had with stakeholders in order to produce a national framework for assessment for continuing care; what topics were discussed at each meeting; on what dates these meetings took place; which stakeholders were present; and what further such meetings she plans to hold with stakeholders;
	(2)  what representations she has received from organisations on the development of a national framework for the assessment for continuing care.

Liam Byrne: Work to produce the national framework for continuing care is on-going, as is stakeholder communication, engagement and involvement.
	My hon. Friend the Member for Thanet South (Dr.Ladyman), the former Under-Secretary, met with the ombudsman specifically to discuss continuing care, and the subject will have come up in numerous visits and meetings. I have met with local authority representatives and also with the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the General Social Care Council and Turning Point, amongst others, when the subject of continuing care was raised.
	Officials have studied the evidence given to the recent Health Select Committee inquiry on continuing care. Regular meetings take place with staff from the ombudsman's office to ensure their full participation and involvement in the development of the national framework.
	Officials held three national meetings on continuing care, on 17 December, 19 January and 4 March, to start to scope the issues that the national framework is to address and gather suggestions for ways forward. These meetings were attended by representatives from the ombudsman's office and representatives from strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and local authorities, including representatives from the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services.
	Meetings and/or discussions have also occurred with numerous organisations, members of the public, researchers and academics, including the Royal College of Nursing, Help the Aged, Age Concern, the Alzheimer's Society and the Long Term Medical Conditions Alliance. A stakeholder event is planned in July to share progress and to gain contributions in particular from organisations with patient/service user and carer networks and professional organisations.
	An electronic discussion forum has been established for regular communication and through which staff from across the health and social care community and wider stakeholder groups can contribute to specific parts of the framework.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds in Stoke Mandeville Hospital are available for patients with severe neck trauma; and whether beds are reserved for local patients.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The information is not available in the format requested. Stoke Mandeville Hospital situated in Aylesbury, is part of the Buckinghamshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust in the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority area. Data are only available on the total number of beds at the hospital trust and not by this speciality.
	The Stoke Mandeville Hospital is a national centre for spinal injuries and burns, therefore it accepts patients from anywhere in the United Kingdom as well as overseas patients who are diagnosed as suffering with severe neck trauma. Beds are not reserved for local patients.

Tooth Decay

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) children and (b) adults in East Yorkshire suffer from (i) tooth decay and (ii) gum disease; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not collected centrally. The National Child Dental Health Survey 2003 reported that from a sample of five-year-olds within East Yorkshire Primary Care Trust, 31.3 per cent. had active decay when examined. There is no localised data on gum disease in children.

Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to publish the updated version of the regulatory impact assessment of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

Jane Kennedy: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published an updated partial regulatory impact assessment on 16 June. The assessment forms part of the public consultation (MLX 325) on the implementation of the Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (Directive 2004/24/EC).

Trans Fats

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on trans fats;
	(2)  what measures are being taken to advise the public on consumption of trans fats.

Caroline Flint: The Government are concerned about the possible health effects, in particular on coronary health, from consuming certain fats. As part of delivering commitments in the Choosing Health White Paper of last November, the Government are developing a strategy with stakeholders for tackling intakes of certain fats. There are currently no plans to commission research on the health effects of consuming trans fats as it is known that at high levels, like saturated fats, they raise the type of cholesterol in the blood that increases the risk of coronary heart disease.
	The Food Standards Agency has provided information and advice, on its Eatwell website, to consumers about the role of fat in the diet and the possible health effects from consuming high levels of trans fats.

Treatment Overseas (E111 Form)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of (a) the number of E111 forms held by British citizens before August 2004 and (b) the proportion of these covering more than one person; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Prior to August 2004, issues of form E111 amounted to approximately 3.5 million per annum. However, since long-standing practice had been to issue E111s without a specified end date, it is not possible to say how many valid E111s were held by the public. No information was collected on the proportion of forms issued on a per family basis and thus covering more than one person.

Treatment Overseas (E111 Form)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the number of British citizens who travelled without a valid E111 form in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Experience has shown that only a small number of United Kingdom residents travelling to other European Union countries who need treatment do not have valid E111s with them. UK residents not in possession of E111 when treatment is required abroad may apply to the Department of Work and Pensions for one to be sent to them abroad. 12,400 such E111s were issued in 200405.

Union Flag

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons her Department did not fly the Union flag from its headquarters for the Queen's Official Birthday.

Jane Kennedy: I can confirm that the Union flag was flown on Saturday 11 June, as notified by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Consultant Vacancies (Accident and Emergency)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which hospitals in Lancashire have vacancies for accident and emergency consultants.

Liam Byrne: The most recent centrally held information on vacancy rates indicated that in March 2004 there were two vacancies at Morecambe Bay Hospitals National Health Service Trust, which had lasted for three months or more. The trust concerned has been actively trying to fill these posts.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre NHS Vacancy Survey.

Waiting Lists/Times

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the target waiting times are for orthopaedic surgery at Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic hospital, Gobowen, Shropshire for patients resident in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Liam Byrne: Patients registered with a general practitioner in England and patients resident in England who are unregistered or who are registered with a GP in Wales should be treated within the standard maximum waiting time for England. The current maximum standard for all in-patient and day case treatment is nine months. The target maximum waiting time by the end of December 2005 is six months.
	Waiting times for patients resident in Wales, unless they are registered with a GP in England, are a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

Waiting Lists/Times

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on cancer treatment waiting times at the Maidstone Oncology Centre in Kent;
	(2)  what plans she has to decrease the number of days patients at Maidstone Oncology Centre wait for cancer treatment;
	(3)  if she will take steps to reduce cancer treatment waiting times for hospitals in East Sussex and Kent;
	(4)  how many weeks on average patients at Maidstone Oncology Centre have waited for post-operative cancer treatment since 1997.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 22 June 2005
	Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells National Health Service Trust, of which the Maidstone Oncology Centre is a part, provides cancer treatment not only to the residents of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells but also to residents in East Sussex. It met the national cancer waiting standards, as at the end of quarter four for 200405, as shown in the table.
	
		
			 Standard Percentage of standard achieved 
		
		
			 Two weeks wait from general practitioner referral to outpatient appointment 99.9 
			 One month wait from diagnosis to treatment for breast cancer 100 
			 Two month wait from GP referral to treatment of breast cancer 97.1 
		
	
	By the end of 2005, two further waiting times targets will be in place for cancers; a 31-day maximum wait from the date of the decision to treat to the start of treatment and a 62-day maximum wait from urgent GP referral for suspected cancer to the start of treatment.

Walk-in Treatment (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many walk-in treatment centres are planned in Lancashire; and in which districts.

Liam Byrne: There are two existing national health service walk-in centres in Lancashire at Blackpool and Skelmersdale. Development of further NHS walk-in centres is a matter for local health communities. The Department has a capital budget for 200506 to support such investment and will be discussing with strategic health authorities shortly how best to deploy this money.